Capsaicin became an indispensable tool in pain research after the discovery of its unique pharmacological actions by Nicholas (Miklós) Jancsó Jr. in the late 1940s. This "History Article" introduces his achievements leading to the foundation of "sensory pharmacology" and subsequent research in that field at the University of Szeged, Hungary.
Keywords: DRG, dorsal root ganglion; RES, reticuloendothelial system; TRPV1, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1; capsaicin; chemosensitive primary afferent neurons; neurogenic inflammation; nociception, TRPV1; pain; sensory neurotoxin; thermoregulation; transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 receptor.