Robby Bowles, University of Utah (IMAGE) University of Utah Caption University of Utah bioengineering assistant professor Robby Bowles and bioengineering doctoral student Niloofar Farhan are part of a team that has discovered a way to curb chronic pain by modulating genes that reduce tissue- and cell-damaging inflammation. The team is using the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat) system -- new technology of modifying human genetics -- to stop cell death and keep the cells from producing molecules that damage tissue and result in chronic pain. Credit Dan Hixson/University of Utah College of Engineering Usage Restrictions Credit Dan Hixson. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.