We developed a preparation to allow recording from live spinal cord slices, which we used to understand the development and organization of inhibition in the sensory spinal cord. More recently, we identified a novel molecular substrate for pathological pain: a signalling mechanism from neuroimmune cells (microglia) that controls chloride homeostasis in the spinal dorsal horn. These discoveries opened new avenues for the treatment of chronic pain and led to four patents on the development of novel analgesics [Nat.Med. 2013] and the creation of a start-up company, Chlorion Pharma.