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THE MAIN LINES OF RESEARCH DEVELOPED BY THE THERAPEUTIC INNOVATION PROGRAMME TO DATE INCLUDE:
• Neurochemistry/Neurobiology: Studies on neurotransmitters, receptors (mGluR2, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT3, CB1, DA, NA-Alpha-2, opioids, etc .) and intracellular signalling mechanisms (AMPc, CREB, ERK-1/2, etc .) .
• The role of neuroplasticity/neuroproliferation pathways in psychiatric disorders . ß-catenin, mTOR and BDNF as new targets for psychotropic drugs .
• Brain circuits in schizophrenia (GABA interneurons, NMDA-R, thalamocortical circuits, etc .) . Mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs .
• Mechanism of action of new antidepressant strategies: deep brain stimulation, (preclinical and clinical studies), ketamine, 5HT4 receptor, siRNA .
• The role of stress and its regulating mechanisms in psychiatric disorders . • Regulation of inflammatory mechanisms, of their origin and consequences in neuropsychiatric
disorders .
• Neurobiological mechanisms of hallucinations and sensitivity to psychotropic drugs .
• Genes and neuroimaging (clinical and preclinical studies) .
• Study of the early stages of Schizophrenia: molecular models for the early identification of psychosis .
• Neurobiological relations between depression-chronic pain .
• New classifications (for example polarity index) and treatments for bipolar disorder .
• Methodology for evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of drugs and non-pharmacological interventions for mental disorders .
• Brain neuroimaging . Diagnostic and prognostic variables . Neural circuits and networks as therapeutic targets .
Objectives:
• To integrate basic and clinical research in a more efficient and multidisciplinary manner by means of collaborative projects in genetics, neuroimaging, identification of therapeutic targets, animal models of mental disorders and mechanism of action of psychotropic drugs .
• To study the neurobiological basis of resistance to treatments and the mechanism of action of new therapeutic strategies .
• To identify new therapeutic targets and biomarkers in mental disorders, particularly depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder .
• To study of the mechanism of action and to design antidepressant, antipsychotic and mood stabilizing drugs .
• To examine and incorporate new non-pharmacological treatment strategies . • To develop, improve and evaluate new basic and clinical research methodologies for evaluating
the effect of drugs and other therapeutic interventions . • To transfer basic knowledge to clinical practice and vice versa . • To reposition drugs . • To provide early identification of psychosis by means of biological markers .
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