Chronic pain such as neuropathic pain, osteoarthritic pain, or abnormal pain associated with neurological diseases represents a debilitating condition which strongly affects the quality of life of patients. The mechanisms at the basis of the induction and maintenance of chronic pain are still poorly understood. Thus, an appropriate therapy for chronic pain is not yet available and there are many failures in treatments. Recent evidence suggests a role for central and peripheral immune cells (microglia, macrophages, astrocytes, mast cells, and T cells) in the initiation of peripheral and central sensitization. They mediate the plastic changes occurring within pain pathways that result in sensory dysfunctions and behavioral correlates, such as thermal/mechanical hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia which is a painful sensation after innocuous stimuli.

We invite contributions to this special issue in the form of original research articles as well as review articles. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Further understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms which underlie chronic pain
• Development of new therapeutic strategies and the evaluation of outcomes
• The new tools to manipulate pharmacologically neuroglia communication at ganglionic, spinal, and supraspinal levels

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/bmri/neuroscience/cp/ according to the following timetable: