Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Neuropharmacology and Neurotherapeutics

Neuropharmacology:

Neuropharmacology focuses on how drugs affect the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. It studies interactions at the molecular and cellular levels to develop medications for neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Short-Term Focus Areas:

1. Neurodegenerative Disorders:
   • Developing drugs for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases that target amyloid plaques, tau proteins, or dopamine pathways.
2. Mood and Anxiety Disorders:
   • Innovations in antidepressants, anxiolytics, and mood stabilizers with faster onset and fewer side effects.
3. Pain Management:
   • Creating safer analgesics, such as non-opioid painkillers, to combat chronic pain and reduce opioid dependency.
4. Epilepsy and Seizure Control:
   • Advancements in anticonvulsants with better efficacy and lower risks of cognitive side effects.

Neurotherapeutics:

Neurotherapeutics encompasses all treatments for neurological disorders, including drugs, devices, and emerging technologies.

Short-Term Focus Areas:

1. Brain Stimulation Techniques:
   • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for depression, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy.
2. Gene Therapy:
   • Targeting specific genetic mutations in conditions like spinal muscular atrophy or certain inherited forms of ALS.
3. Monoclonal Antibodies:
   • Used for diseases like Alzheimer’s (e.g., anti-amyloid therapies) and multiple sclerosis.
4. Regenerative Approaches:
   • Stem cell therapies for repairing brain injuries and neurodegeneration.