The race to engineer new knobs for the human brain

Chemogenetics, a technique that allows specific neurons to be remotely controlled using designer drugs, has entered human clinical trials, with at least seven ongoing studies in China treating conditions like pain, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. This represents a major advancement from traditional brain treatment methods, as it enables precise, genetically-targeted therapy that can be controlled and adjusted remotely. The technology joins other emerging neuroscience tools like optogenetics and gene-editing therapies that permanently alter or engineer neurons for therapeutic purposes.