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Monoclonal antibodies -- lab-made proteins that mimic our natural antibodies and bind to specific proteins to treat diseases -- have emerged as a promising treatment for chronic pain by targeting nerve growth factor and sequestering it.

Mast cells release chemicals called nerve growth factor, which drive overgrowth and increase sensitivity of nerves.

My lab began working on engineering viruses to insert nerve growth factor in cells to transplant into the brain and subsequently contributed to building the first safe viral packages to deliver genes to the brain.

His colleague at the time, Rita Levi-Montalcini, had made a seminal discovery of a protein known as nerve growth factor, which stimulated the growth of nerve cells in laboratory mice.

The pain pathway is kicked off when a substance called nerve growth factor is released by injured or inflamed cells.