Novel Molecular Targets for Mood Disorders and Psychosis: A Workshop

External Event - 8th to 9th Mar 2021

The event will be live-streamed via an embedded webcast on this page during the dates and times above. After the event, a recording will be available for viewing on this page. To register via Eventbrite, visit here.

For many individuals living with mental illness, current pharmacological interventions are ineffective at delivering adequate relief from disabling symptoms. Despite the release of several generations of antidepressants, depression remains a leading cause of disability in the United States. Meanwhile, psychosis spectrum disorders are less well understood and generally more difficult to treat with drugs. 

However, recent advances in understanding mechanisms of action (MOAs) have led to the identification of potential novel molecular targets in the neuropharmacology mood disorder – including glutamate receptors, GABA receptors, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, the mTOR pathway, the TAAR1 pathway, and others. These promising avenues for further investigation have re-energized scientific research into new opportunities for targeted drug development for depression and psychosis-  but there remain many open questions.

This virtual public workshop brings together experts and key stakeholders from academia, government, industry, and non-profit organizations to explore novel molecular targets in the neuropharmacology of mood disorders and psychosis. A proceedings of the presentations and discussions at the workshop will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with NASEM’s institutional guidelines.