A new method of measuring pain in rats and mice could eventually help break the human dependence on opioid-based pain medication.
David Roberson Photo: (Supplied)
But before a drug ever gets to a clinical trial on humans, researchers have to do extensive animal trials.
The problem is how can you prove a painkiller is working on a mouse or a rat?
David Roberson of Blue Therapeutics thinks he has found an answer using a touchscreen that measures an animal's paw prints to give valuable insights into how they are really feeling.
PalmReader tech Photo: (Supplied)