Abstract: The invention provides a multi-well plate reader for providing simultaneous transmission of stimulation light to, and detection of emission light from, individual wells of a multi-well plate at a plurality of distinct wavelengths.

Abstract: The inventions provide microscopes for imaging samples within wells of multi-well plates. Microscopes of the disclosure include a beam homogenizer system that shapes a beam from a light source into a shape specific to the bottom of a well of a multi-well plate. In particular, microscopes of the disclosure can illuminate wells for imaging by passing light through a prism that is beneath the sample. The light enters the prism from the side and as refracted into the well at a steep angle such that the light only illuminates about a bottom ten microns of the well. The beam homogenizer shapes the light from the light source so that, instead of hitting the prism as a spot with an irregular shape, the light enters the prism in a substantially rectangular pattern with homogeneous optical power level over the pattern.

Abstract: The invention provides non-opioid pain therapeutic compositions that include an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) complementary to an identified target on a NaV channel mRNA. The ASO hybridizes to its target RNA and forms a duplex that recruits RNase H to degrade the RNA, thereby downregulating NaV channel synthesis, which inhibits the neuron's ability to contribute to the perception of pain. The ASO targets one of the specific identified targets, and may be provided as a gapmer that includes a central DNA segment flanked by modified RNA wings. When the composition is delivered to dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in vitro, the DRG neurons exhibit a dose-dependent knockdown of NaV1.7, NaV1.8, or NaV1.9.