Researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS) are cataloging those interactions, hunting for the molecular reactions that produce dysfunctional chronic pain with the hope of better treating it in the future. In a recent study published March 16 in Science Signaling, a team of CAPS scientists used a massive repository of RNA sequencing data to produce a map of how specific types of cells interact with peripheral sensory neurons. “Using the interactome, we can highlight specific interactions within this overwhelming data that are present in multiple disease models in humans. “An RNA sequencing dataset is enormous. “We are really hopeful that this idea can be the start of a real effort toward personalized, molecular mechanism-based treatment for pain,” Price said.