Innovative solutions to novel drug development in mental health
Insel TR., Voon V., Nye JS., Brown VJ., Altevogt BM., Bullmore ET., Goodwin GM., Howard RJ., Kupfer DJ., Malloch G., Marston HM., Nutt DJ., Robbins TW., Stahl SM., Tricklebank MD., Williams JH., Sahakian BJ.
There are many new advances in neuroscience and mental health which should lead to a greater understanding of the neurobiological dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders and new developments for early, effective treatments. To do this, a biomarker approach combining genetic, neuroimaging, cognitive and other biological measures is needed. The aim of this article is to highlight novel approaches for pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment development. This article suggests approaches that can be taken in the future including novel mechanisms with preliminary clinical validation to provide a toolbox for mechanistic studies and also examples of translation and back-translation. The review also emphasizes the need for clinician-scientists to be trained in a novel way in order to equip them with the conceptual and experimental techniques required, and emphasizes the need for private-public partnership and pre-competitive knowledge exchange. This should lead the way for important new holistic treatment developments to improve cognition, functional outcome and well-being of people with neuropsychiatric disorders. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.