TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND -- PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKES HIS FIRST TRIP TO ASIA OF HIS SECOND TERM, AS HE SEEKS A TRADE DEAL WITH CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING.

INSIDE CHINA, THE GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES THE MOST WIDESPREAD CRACKDOWN ON THE COUNTRY'S CHRISTIANS IN YEARS.

AND THE EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT OFFERING HOPE TO THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO STRUGGLE WITH CHRONIC PAIN.

>> EVEN TODAY, I'VE HAD A 7 OUT OF 10 MIGRAINE ALL DAY TODAY.

I STILL GOT UP, I STILL DID MY ERRANDS.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN ARE JUST FORCED TO DO.

NICK: GOOD EVENING.

I'M NICK SCHIFRIN.

JOHN YANG IS AWAY.

TONIGHT, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS PREDICTING HE AND CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING WILL SIGN A "COMPREHENSIVE TRADE DEAL," DURING MR.

TRUMP'S FIRST VISIT TO ASIA SINCE RETURNING TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE HIGH-STAKES TRIP COMES AS THE PRESIDENT FACES A CONSTELLATION OF INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGES -- FROM THE RELEATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORLD'S TWO LARGEST ECONOMIES, TO TRYING TO END WARS IN UKRAINE AND GAZA.

ON HIS WAY TO ASIA, PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE A PITSTOP IN DOHA TO GREET QATARI LEADERS WHO HELPED BROKER THE GAZA CEASEFIRE.

PRES.

TRUMP: YOU HAVE A SAFE MIDDLE EAST RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'RE GONNA KEEP IT THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME.

NICK: BUT WHAT LIES AHEAD IS PERHAPS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING OF HIS NEW TERM -- WITH CHINESE LEADER XI JINPING.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE'S LOOKING TO MAKE A TRADE DEAL, TO AVOID THREATENED 157% TARIFFS.

THE U.S.

WANTS BEIJING TO BUY MORE AMERICAN SOYBEANS.

THERE ARE ALSO TENSIONS OVER TECHNOLOGY CRITICAL MINERALS, , AND TAIWAN.

BUT THE U.S.

WILL NOT WALK AWAY FROM TAIWAN IN PURSUIT OF A CHINESE TRADE DEAL, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO SAID TONIGHT.

REPORTER: WILL CHINA NEED TO MAKE CONCESSIONS TO GET A DEAL?

ARE YOU WILLING TO PAUSE TARIFFS?

PRES.

TRUMP: YEAH, SURE THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE CONCE.. I GUESS WE WOULD TOO.

NICK: THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE HAD NO PLANS TO REPEAT HIS HIGH-PROFILE MEETINGS WITH NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG-UN BUT , THAT HE'D BE WILLING TO MEET.

PRES.

TRUMP: HE KNOWS I'M COMING.

YEAH, I'D BE OPEN TO IT, 100%.

I GOT ALONG VERY WELL WITH HIM, KIM JONG-UN.

NICK: BUT ONGOING WARS LOOM ON THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA.

THIS MORNING IN UKRAINE, SMOKE FILLED A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER AN OVERNIGHT RUSSIAN ATTACK.

AND IN GAZA, THE ISRAELI MILITARY SAID IT CONDUCTED AN AIRSTRIKE AGAINST AN IMMINENT THREAT, DESPITE THE CEASEFIRE.

IN SOUTHERN GAZA, TRUCKS ARE ROLLING IN, AS U.N.

AGENCIES ARE RUSHING IN BADLY NEEDED AID.

EARLIER TODAY, I TALKED WITH THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM'S COUNTRY DIRECTOR ANTOINE RENARD.

>> TWO WEEKS SINCE THE CEASEFIRE, WE HAVE REACHED 320,000 PEOPLE DIRECTLY.

WE HAVE SCALED UP.

WE NOW HAVE 15 BAKERIES UP AND RUNNING 23 HOURS OUT OF 24.

700,000 PEOPLE GET FRESH BREAD ON A DAILY BASIS.

NICK: THE NEED HAS BEEN MASSIVE.

THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT DECLARES FAMINE SAYS THERE WAS FAMINE IN NORTHERN GAZA BEFORE THE CEASEFIRE.

ARE YOU ABLE TO REACH ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS HELP THE MOST?

>> THE LEVEL AND THE SCALE OF WHAT WE HAVE MANAGED TO DO IS NOT YET SUFFICIENT VERSUS WHAT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE DOING.

WHEN I WAS MENTIONING 320,000 PEOPLE GETTING THE BOXES, IT IS ONLY 20% OF WHAT WE SHOULD REACH ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE HAVE 10,000 METRIC TONS GETTING INTO GAZA.

THIS IS 1/6 WHAT WE NEED TO COVER STABLE FOOD FOR A FULL MONTH.

MANAGED TO REACH THE POPULATION IN GAZA.

N JULY, IT ONE MILLION ON AVERAGE.

WE NEED TO GEAR UP THE QUALITY.

SOME OF THE FAMILIES WERE TELLING ME THEY DREAM OF CHICKEN AND EGGS.

BUT BECAUSE MANY OF THESE FOODS ARE NOT COMING IN SUFFICIENTLY, THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT.

NICK: ISRAEL HAS LONG ARGUED HAMAS WAS LOOTING TRUCKS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING?

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN EVENTS RELATED TO THE PROGRAM ON THE GROUND.

THE SYSTEM IS WORKING IN GAZA.

NICK: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THE CEASEFIRE HOLES AND TURNS INTO A PERMANENT PEACE?

>> THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

SITTING WITH PEOPLE IN GAZA A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, I CAN TELL YOU THE MAIN MESSAGE FROM THE POPULATION, ONE OF THE FAMILIES WAS TELLING ME WE WILL NOT SURVIVE IF WE ARE GETTING AGAIN BOMBS ON OUR HEAD.

I THINK THERE IS NOW THIS SENTIMENT OF HOPE, BUT WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.

WE ALWAYS TO THE CIVILIAN POPULATION IN GAZA -- WE OWE IT TO THE CIVILIAN POPULATION IN GAZA.

IT IS SO DIRE TO GET OUT OF TWO YEARS OF WAR.

I THINK THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OWES IT TO THE PEOPLE IN GAZA NOT TO FACE CONFLICT ANYMORE.

NICK: THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TONIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP SUGGESTED FOR THE FIRST TIME HAMAS FACED A DEADLINE TO HAND OVER THE REMAINING HOSTAGES.

HE WROTE ON TRUTH SOCIAL, LET'S SEE WHAT THEY DO-OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS, I AM WATCHING CLOSELY.

IN TONIGHT'S OTHER HEADLINES, MELISSA IS NOW A HURRICANE IN THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN.

THE STORM IS RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING, AND THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER WARNS IT WILL BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY TOMORROW, BRINGING CATASTROPHIC AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING TO JAMAICA AND HAITI.

THE STORM IS ALREADY BLAMED FOR AT LEAST FOUR DEATHS.

LANDSLIDES, HEAVY RAIN, AND DAMAGING WIND ARE ALSO LIKELY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND EASTERN CUBA.

IT IS NOT EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN THE U.S.

AS THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN STRETCHES INTO A 25TH DAY, THERE ARE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT ABOUT THE ANONYMOUS DONOR WHO VOLUNTEERED TO PAY U.S.

TROOPS.

THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS TIMOTHY MELLON IS THE PERSON BEHIND THE $130 MILLION DONATION.

MELLON IS A BILLIONAIRE BANKING AND RAILROAD HEIR, AND MAJOR FINANCIAL BACKER OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

DESPITE THE LARGE GIFT -- IT AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $100 FOR EACH OF THE COUNTRY'S 1.3 MILLION SERVICE MEMBERS.

EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY IN TWO OF THIS YEAR'S HIGHEST PROFILE ELECTIONS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO MEASURE VOTER SENTIMENT AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR'S MIDTERMS.

IN THE NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL RACE VOTERS ARE CHOOSING BETWEEN , DEMOCRAT ZOHRAN MAMDANI REPUBLICAN CURTIS SLEEWA SLIWA, , AND FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, WHO'S RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT.

AND IN THE NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S RACE THE COST OF LIVING AND , PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICIES HAVE TAKEN CENTER STAGE.

POLLS SHOW REPUBLICAN STATE SOME WOMEN SLIGHTLY TRAILING THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN.

PLANS FOR THE NEW BALLROOM ARE FAR FROM COMPLETE.

LATE FRIDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP DENIED REPORTS HE PLANS TO NAME THE ADDITION AFTER HIMSELF.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: THAT WAS FAKE NEWS.

PROBABLY GOING TO CALL IT THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLROOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT A NAME YET.

NICK: THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID IF THERE WERE ANY FUNDS LEFTOVER AFTER THE MORE THAN $300 MILLION BALLROOM IS COMPLETE THEY COULD , HELP PAY FOR AN ARCH BEING BUILT ACROSS FROM THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL FOR THE NATION'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND," THE LARGEST CRACKDOWN ON CHRISTIANS INSIDE CHINA IN YEARS AND WE MEET A NURSE IN UGANDA WHO CLIMBS THOUSAND FOOT LADDERS TO SAVE LIVES.

NICK: NEXT WEEK WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP MEETS CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING, MUCH OF THE TOP WILL BE ABOUT TRADE.

AS HE HAS DONE BEFORE WHEN FACING TRUMP PRESSURE, XI HAS LAUNCHED A MAJOR CRACKDOWN ON THE COUNTRY'S CHRISTIANS.

THERE ARE TENS OF MILLIONS OF CHRISTIANS IN CHINA.

AND EARLIER THIS MONTH, BEIJING ARRESTED A PROMINENT UNDERGROUND CHURCH PASTOR AND MORE THAN 20 OTHER CLERGY AND PARISHONERS.

IN 2019, I TRAVELED TO CHINA AND SAW FIRSTHAND HOW THE FAITHFUL ARE OFTEN FORCED TO PRAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF A BEIJING APARTMENT BUILDING, AN UNMARKED DOOR.

HELLO.

INSIDE, A SECRET CHURCH FOR THOSE PROHIBITED FROM PRAYING IN PUBLIC.

>> [SINGING] NICK: HE IS THE PASTOR OF THE HOLY LOVE FELLOWSHIP.

HIS CONGREGATION AMONG CHINA'S MOST VULNERABLE CHRISTIANS, CRITICS OF THE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT.

HIS SANCTUARY, ALSO HIS APARTMENT AND BEDROOM.

THERE WAS GOOD REASON FOR SECRECY.

>> SINCE 2014, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM HAS REDUCED.

ON JANUARY 20 4, 2014, WE WERE TAKEN TO THE POLICE STATION.

13 OF US WERE DETAINED AS CRIMINAL FOR ONE MONTH.

NICK: BY THEN, HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED THREE TIMES.

2014 WAS THE FIRST TIME AUTHORITIES DETAINED HIS ENTIRE PARISH.

>> WE WERE ARRESTED BECAUSE WE DEFENDED THE RIGHTS OF OTHER CHURCHES.

NICK: CHRISTIAN ACTIVISTS CITY GOVERNMENT HAS DEMOLISHED THOUSANDS OF UNSANCTIONED CHURCHES.

THE ARE SOME GOVERNMENT APPROVED MINISTRIES, BUT THEY HAVE TO DISPLAY BANNERS LIKE THIS ONE THAT SAYS, "IMPLEMENT THE BASIC DIRECTION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY'S RELIGIOUS GROUP."

HINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING HAS DESCRIBED MINORITIES AND THEIR CULTURES AND RELIGIONS AS THREATS TO STABILITY.

OST AUDACIOUSLY IN 2017, BEIJING SET UP WHAT ACTIVISTS CALL CONCENTRATION CAMPS FOR MUSLIM UIGHURS TO CRACK ON THEIR LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AND LABOR FORCED LABOR.

THE NEXT YEAR, THEY BANNED ONE OF THE LARGEST HOUSE CHURCHES WHEN THE PASTORS REFUSED TO INSTALL FACIAL RECOGNITION CAMERAS.

THE CHURCH WAS FORCED TO GO VIRTUAL.

HE TOLD ME HIS CHURCH AND ITS PARISHIONERS WERE ALSO UNDER SURVEILLANCE.

>> THEY KNOW ABOUT OUR CHURCH.

THE POLICE HAD ALSO COME TO OUR CHURCH.

BUT RELATIVELY SPEAKING, WE WERE ABLE TO PERSIST.

OUR PERSISTENCE IS OUR MAIN GRACE.

NICK: FOR ZION CHURCH, INSTEAD OF DYING OUT IN 2018, THE CONGREGATION GREW FROM 1500 TO MORE THAN 10,000 DAILY WORSHIPERS ACROSS 40 CITIES.

BUT TODAY, FACING DOMESTIC ECONOMIC HEADWINDS AND PRESSURE FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGAIN CRACKDOWN ON CHRISTIANS AND THE ZION CHURCH LEADER.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, BEIJING ROUNDED HIM UP AND DETAINED MORE THAN 20 OF HIS FELLOW PARISHIONERS.

I AM JOINED BY THE DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW OF THE ZION CHURCH FOUNDER.

THANKS VERY MUCH, WELCOME.

LET ME START WITH YOU.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOUR FATHER WAS ARRESTED?

>> JULY 9, 10, 11, INITIALLY UP TO 30 LEADERS OF THE CHURCH WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM NINE DIFFERENT CITIES, INCLUDING MY FATHER.

MY FATHER HAS SEVERE DIABETES AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING HIM TO USE HIS OWN MEDICATION.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT HIS HEALTH.

NICK: HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?

>> MY MOTHER AND I AND TWO BROTHERS ARE ALL IN THE U.S.

WE FEEL GENERALLY PRETTY SAFE WE ARE PROTECTED BY OUR GOVERNMENT.

AT THE SAME TIME, TO KNOW THAT OUR LOVED ONES ARE IN CHINA AND WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING, THAT THEY ARE UNJUSTLY DETAINED JUST FOR THE FREEDOM OF FAITH, IS SHOCKING TO US.

NICK: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME XI JINPING'S BEIJING HAS CLAMPED DOWN ON CHRISTIANS, NOR IS IT THE FIRST TIME XI JINPING HAS TARGETED ZION CHURCH.

HOW IS THIS PART OF A TREND?

>> XI JINPING'S CHINA FROM THE BEGINNING HAS TRIED TO PUSH AN IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA.

PART OF THAT HAS BEEN TIGHTENING THE SCREWS ON ALL RELIGIOUS GROUPS ACROSS CHINA.

THE FIRST BIG PUSH ON THIS WAS AROUND 2018, 2019 YOU HAVE RESEARCHED.

NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO FINISH WHAT THEY STARTED OR WHAT WAS LEFT UNFINISHED.

NICK: AGAINST ALL MINORITY ETHNIC RELIGION AND CULTURE.

>> RIGHT.

THE IRONY IT IS HIS EFFORTS TO CLAMP DOWN ON ZION CHURCH AND MANY OF THE CHURCHES HAVE BACKFIRED.

BECAUSE THEY TOOK THE PHYSICAL MEETING SPACE OF ZION CHURCH, THEY HAD TO DEVELOP THIS KIND OF HYBRID ONLINE/OFF-LINE DECENTRALIZED MODEL.

WHEN COVID HIT, IT EXPANDED DRAMATICALLY.

NICK: YOUR FATHER WORKED FOR A STATE-SPONSORED CHURCH EARLY ON.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

WHY DID HE DECIDE TO LAUNCH AN UNSANCTIONED CHURCH?

>> MANY PEOPLE IN THE U.S.

MIGHT THINK, WHY NOT JUST JOINING GET LEGALIZED?

WHAT WE DO NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND IS THAT IN CHINA, IT MEANS YOU ARE IN THE ULTIMATE CONTROL OF THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT KIND OF SERVICE YOU CAN PREACH ON SUNDAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN BE BAPTIZED.

CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE AT CHURCHES BECAUSE THERE IS A LAW IN CHINA THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT PROSELYTIZE TO ANYONE UNDER 18.

YOU REALIZE THAT IS A CHURCH IN HOSTAGE.

IT IS NOT A FREE CHURCH.

NICK: XI JINPING IS TRAVELING TO SOUTH KOREA NEXT WEEK.

HE WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP DURING THAT TRIP.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AHEAD OF THAT MEETING?

>> OUR HOPE IS AS A PRECONDITION, A SIGN OF GOODWILL, WHATEVER IT TAKES, WE WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE CHINESE PARTY AND SHE'S MEETING -- XI JINPING THAT TAKING PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE AS HOSTAGE IS NOT ALL RIGHT AND THESE PRISONERS NEED TO BE FREED.

>> I THINK THIS A BEYOND U-CHINA RELATIONS.

THIS IS A FREEDOM OF RELIGION ISSUE.

I WOULD ASK THE GLOBAL CHURCH TO RISE UP AND PRAY WITH US ON ASKING MY FATHER AND THE 22 OTHERS TO BE RELEASED.

NICK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOTH OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ NICK: THE CDC SAYS CHRONIC PAIN AFFECTS MORE THAN 50 MILLION AMERICANS.

PERSISTENT PAIN THAT LASTS BEYOND A TYPICAL RECOVERY PERIOD CAN BE THE PELLET HATING.

FINDING THE RIGHT TREATMENT IS A CHALLENGE PRETTY RECENT STUDY COULD PROVIDE A GLIMMER OF HOPE.

ALI ROGIN RECENTLY SPOKE WITH PAM BELLUCK, HEALTH AND SCIENCE REPORTER FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

BEFORE WE JUMP IN, I'D LIKE TO PLAY A COLLECTION OF INTERVIEWS WE DID WITH PEOPLE LIVING IN CHRONIC PAIN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> IT RANGES FROM THINGS AS BEING AS SIMPLE AS, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMETHING LIKE BACK PAIN THAT YOU MAY EXPERIENCE ON A DAILY BASIS, TO LITERALLY NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF BED, TO BE ABLE TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH.

>> THE SIMPLE ACT OF DRIVING TO WORK MAKES THE COMMUTE EXTREMELY PAINFUL.

>> I START MY MORNINGS, YOU KNOW, ASSESSING WHICH JOINT NEEDS TO KIND OF BE PUT BACK IN PLACE.

AND THEN MY DAY GOES FROM THERE.

>> EVEN TODAY, I'VE HAD A SEVEN OUT OF 10 MIGRAINE ALL DAY TODAY, I STILL GOT UP, I STILL DID MY ERRANDS.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE LIVING IN CHRONIC PAIN ARE JUST FORCED TO DO.

>> I HAVE HAD TO CANCEL OUTINGS ON WEEKENDS, LOCAL TRIPS AROUND THE AREA, JUST FOR THE SIMPLE FACT OF WAKING UP AND ROLLING OUT OF BED AND REALIZING THAT THAT DAY WAS JUST GOING TO BE TYLENOL AND COUCH AND ICE AND HEAT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

>> I LOOK TOTALLY FINE BUT I'M DEALING WITH AN INVISIBLE ILLNESS.

AND THAT'S VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN BUT I MASK IT.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT SEE SOMEONE SUFFERING IN PUBLIC AND THEY COULD VERY EASILY BE HIDING IT BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVE TO, BUT ALSO SOMETIMES IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO DO THAT.

IT'S A UNIQUE KIND OF TORTURE.

>> THE SORT OF GUILT AND SHAME, AT LEAST I FEEL, OF QUESTIONING, YOU KNOW, COULD I HAVE AVOIDED SOME OF THESE INJURIES OR WAS I JUST BUILT TO BE BROKEN?

>> I WAS VERY ACTIVE, I WAS A SWIMMER, I RODE MY BIKE, I PLAYED SPORTS, AND NOW I CAN'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR ME TO MOURN THAT LOSS.. WHAT MY NEW LIFE WAS, ESPECIALLY AT MY YOUNGER AGE.

>> IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPERIENCE CHRONIC PAIN AS A CHILD, AND I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS GOING ON.

I JUST KNEW THAT I WAS IN PAIN ALL THE TIME AND THAT I DIDN'T FEEL GOOD, AND NOBODY WOULD BELIEVE ME THAT I DID NOT FEEL GOOD.

AND IT LED TO A LOT OF REALLY BAD MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS BECAUSE I JUST WANTED THE PAIN TO STOP.

>> SOME OF THAT IS REALLY HARD TO HEAR.

YOU'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO PEOPLE WHO SUFFER EVERY DAY.

WHY IS CHRONIC PAIN SO DIFFICULT TO TREAT?

>> YEAH THOSE WERE REALLY, , REALLY MOVING.

I'VE HEARD MANY PEOPLE EXPRESSING SIMILAR THINGS.

IT CAN JUST BE REALLY DEBILITATING FOR PEOPLE.

IT IS HARD TO TREAT BECAUSE IT HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VARIATION.

IT'S VERY INDIVIDUALIZED, LOTS OF DIFFERENT CAUSES.

THERE'S NOT KIND OF A SINGLE POINT IN THE BRAIN OR EVEN IN THE BODY FOR MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE TREATED.

THERE'S NO KIND OF CENTER OF PAIN.

SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE MEDICATIONS THAT WE HAVE DON'T WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

THE OTHER METHODS THAT WE LIKE SPINAL CORD STIMULATORS OR NERVE BLOCKS, THEY HELP SOME PEOPLE, BUT THEY JUST DON'T FOR EVERYBODY.

>> YOU LOOKED AT A TRIAL THAT WAS DONE.

IT WAS A VERY SMALL TRIAL, BUT POTENTIALLY GROUNDBREAKING.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT IT?

>> YEAH.

THIS WAS A CLINICAL TRIAL THAT WAS LOOKING AT AN APPROACH CALLED DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION.

AND WHAT DEEP BRAIN SIMULATION IS, IT INVOLVES IMPLANTING ELECTRODES IN THE BRAIN AND USING THOSE ELECTRODES TO DELIVER PULSES OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION.

THESE RESEARCHERS SAID LET'S SEE IF WE CAN TRY IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

USUALLY DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION INVOLVES PUTTING THE ELECTRODES IN ONE AREA OR TWO AREAS IN THE BRAIN AND THEN TURNING ON THE STIMULATION AND JUST KIND OF SETTING IT AND FORGETTING IT.

AND SO, IT'S ON CONTINUOUSLY.

BUT THESE RESEARCHERS, THEIR IDEA WAS MAYBE THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC PAIN BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ONE OR TWO SPECIFIC LOCATIONS IN THE BRAIN THAT ARE GONNA WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

AND MAYBE IF WE HAVE IT ON ALL THE TIME, THE BRAIN ADAPTS TO IT AND THEN IT JUST SORT OF STOPS WORKING FOR PEOPLE.

SO WHAT THEY DID IS THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO IDENTIFY IN A SMALL NUMBER OF PATIENTS, THE SPECIFIC BRAIN LOCATIONS THAT WOULD RESPOND TO THEIR PAIN WHEN THEIR PAIN WAS AT ITS WORST.

THEY CREATED THESE ALGORITHMS USING AI.

AND THEN THEY IMPLANTED THE ELECTRODES IN THOSE LOCATIONS .

AND SO, IT KIND OF OPERATED LIKE A THERMOSTAT FOR THE BRAIN WHERE IT WAS RESPONDING TO THE PATIENT'S PAIN SIGNALS.

GIVING THAT BURST OF STIMULATION, TURNING IT OFF, AND THEN THE NEXT TIME THEY WERE IN PAIN, IT WOULD DO THE SAME.

>> WHAT DID THE EXPERTS YOU SPOKE TO SAY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR BROADER APPLICATION OF THIS PARTICULAR THERAPY?

>> SO, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY OPEN QUESTION.

THIS TECHNIQUE ITSELF OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW IS INVASIVE.

IT'S EXPENSIVE.

SO, IN THE FORM THAT IT IS IN RIGHT NOW, AND OF COURSE IT'S NOT YET APPROVED, IT WOULD BE HARD TO SCALE IT UP TO HELP A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE.

BUT AS ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS I TALKED TO SAID, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK OF THIS LIKE A PACEMAKER FOR THE BRAIN, WHICH IS WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS OFTEN REFERRED TO, PACEMAKERS FOR THE HEART, YOU KNOW DECADES AGO WERE ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE AND INVASIVE AND PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HOW WIDELY THEY COULD BE USED.

SO, I THINK THAT AS YOU KNOW WE LEARN MORE AND AS THE TECHNOLOGY BECOMES MORE ACCESSIBLE, THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR IT TO BE USED FOR MORE PATIENTS.

THE OTHER KIND OF CRUCIAL THING, THOUGH, IS THAT STUDIES LIKE THIS, PARTICULARLY WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL HALLMARKS AND MARKERS OF PAIN IN THE BRAIN, THEY CAN TEACH SCIENTISTS A LOT ABOUT HOW PAIN WORKS, AND THAT CAN LEAD TO OTHER KIND OF LESS INVASIVE, LESS EXPENSIVE METHODS OF TREATMENT.

PART OF THIS IS TO REALLY HELP SCIENTISTS UNDERSTAND THIS VERY COMPLEX AND INDIVIDUALIZED CONDITION.

>> PAM BELLUCK WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES, FASCINATING REPORTING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ NICK:## FINALLY, TONIGHT THE , LENGTHS,.. NURSE GOES TO FOR HER PATIENTS.

JOHN YANG HAS THE STORY.

JOHN: TO REACH THE ISOLATED EASTERN UGANDA MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT NEED HER HELP, NURSE AGNES NAMBOZO SCALES A TREACHEROUS 1000-FOOT LADDER, TOO STEEP FOR SMALL CHILDREN, MOTHERS CARRYING BABIES, AND THE SICK TO CLIMB DOWN.

>> PREGNANT MOTHERS, WE CAN WHEN WE COME, WE ALSO ASSESS THEM, BECAUSE THE JOURNEY IS LONG TO THE HEALTH FACILITIES.

HIV PATIENTS, THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE BEDRIDDEN AND THOSE WITH TB, THEY ARE UNABLE TO COME AND PICK THE DRUGS AT THE HEALTH FACILITY.

SO, SOMETIMES WE WILL BRING THE TREATMENT TO THEIR HOMES.

JOHN: HER MOST ESSENTIAL MISSION IS VACCINATING CHILDREN AGAINST POLIO, MEASLES, TETANUS, AND PNEUMONIA AS UGANDA PUSHES TO REDUCE THE HIGH RATE OF CHILDHOOD MORTALITY.

>> BEFORE SHE CAME, WE USED TO WALK DOWN THERE, UP TO ZEMA.

SOMETIMES WE DIDN'T FINISH EVEN IMMUNIZATION OF OUR CHILDREN, BECAUSE THE JOURNEY IS SO LONG.

WHEN SHE CAME, SHE HAS HELPED US SO MUCH CLIMBING THIS AREA, AND WE ARE NOW FINISHING IMMUNIZING OUR CHILDREN.

JOHN: THE GATES FOUNDATION HAS RECOGNIZED HER WORK, WHICH DOESN'T STOP FOR RAIN.

AND NOW, NAMBOZO'S PATH HAS GOTTEN TOUGHER.

USAID CUTS HAVE ELIMINATED MANY JOBS AT HER CLINIC.

AS SHE AND THOSE WHO REMAIN TRY TO TAKE UP THE SLACK, AVOIDING BURNOUT COULD BE AS MUCH OF A CHALLENGE AS GETTING TO THE ISOLATED COMMUNITIES THAT NEED HER HELP.

NICK: THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR TONIGHT.

FOR ALL OF US, I HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD DAY.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.