IMB Centre for Pain Research

A discovery by scientists from IMB's Centre for Pain Research may allow some future cancer patients, including children with leukaemia, to avoid their chemotherapy’s worst and most debilitating side effects.

Chemotherapy with fewer side effects may be on the way

Published on: 15 March 2021

The side effects of the chemotherapy have been reduced by an anti-inflammatory drug.

Researchers are trying to discover why the toxins of jellyfish are so deadly, yet have evolved to kill in different ways.

Researchers hunt venom clues in deadly jellyfish

Published on: 4 February 2021

IMB researchers are carrying out genome sequencing to provide clues as to why jellyfish venoms are so deadly.

Venom from spitting cobras has evolved as a form of self-defence, rather than for capturing prey. Credit: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London and Callum Mair

Spitting cobra venoms evolved to cause extreme pain

Published on: 22 January 2021

Venom from spitting cobras has evolved as a form of self-defence, rather than for capturing prey, and is more effective at causing pain than venom from non-spitters.

Giant spider provides promise of pain relief for irritable bowel syndrome

Published on: 21 September 2020

Molecules from the venom of one of the world’s largest spiders could help tailor pain blockers for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The painful toxins wielded by a giant Australian stinging tree are surprisingly similar to the venom found in spiders and cone snails.

Native stinging tree toxins match the pain of spiders and scorpions

Published on: 17 September 2020

IMB researchers have discovered the neurotoxin in the giant stinging tree targets the same receptors as spider and cone snail toxins.

Spider venom holds key to addiction-free pain killers

Published on: 15 April 2020

Molecules in tarantula venom could be used as an alternative to opioid pain killers for people seeking chronic pain relief.

The science of chronic pain

Imagine waking up every day wondering if you are going to have a ‘good pain day' or a ‘bad pain day'? That is the harsh reality of those who suffer the perils of chronic pain.

A sample of estuarine mud taken 16 years ago has yielded a potential new class of painkiller.

New class of painkiller found in the mud

Published on: 15 October 2019

Mud taken from an estuarine nearly 20 years ago could hold the secret to a new painkiller.

The key to discovering new antibiotics and other drugs may lie in the inter-kingdom chemical warfare between fungi and bacteria, according to new research from the University of Queensland (UQ).

Microbial beach warfare key to new drug discoveries

Published on: 13 November 2018

The key to discovering new antibiotics and other drugs may lie in the inter-kingdom chemical warfare between fungi and bacteria, according to new research from the University of Queensland (UQ).

Bull ant venom could put the bite on pain

Published on: 13 September 2018

Venom from the giant red bull ant is helping IMB scientists understand the evolution of animal toxins in work that could lead to better treatments for pain.