WP4. Biomedical: Neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research

Recent advances in neurobiological research allow us to indentify neurobiological mechanisms never investigated before. Genetic research has identified novel genes associated with major mental disorders and functional studies are elucidating neurobehavioural mechanisms underlying major psychopathology. Evidence suggests there is a common neurobiological basis for vulnerability as well as for the resistance to mental disorders. However, there is still a serious gap between our knowledge of basic mechanisms, processes and pathways on the one hand and treatment of medical disorders on the other hand.

To achieve progress in the area technical platforms are envisioned where novel gene variants and biological substrates linked to susceptibility for specific symptomatology can be investigated in depth. Thus, it is necessary to promote research to develop both bioinformatics and models to understand how stressful information is being processed.  A structured European approach to biomedical mental health research which combines the socio-cultural benefits of a broad European approach with state-of-the-art neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research has the potential to considerably advance biomedical research on mental disorders.

• To identify key research areas in Europe investigating neurobiological mechanisms of mental disorder and resilience and their interaction with the environment to understand causes and individual vulnerability to mental disorders across the life span
• To assess the current state of the art in biomedical, neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research
• To assess gaps and advances in biomedical, neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research
• To prioritise among gaps and advances to provide for solutions on gaps in biomedical, neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research

Prof. Gunter Schumann

Prof. Trevor Robbins

Dr. Tom Walker-Tilley

First scientific workshop to review the state-of-art in neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research across Europe

The workshop, hosted by Prof. Gunter Schumann from the (King’s College of London - Institute of Psychiatry), took place successfully in Dresden (Germany) at the Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy,  Technische Universität on May 31st  and June 1st , 2012.
Click to the following link to download the agenda of the event.
Click to the following link to download the list of participants of the event.

See the pictures of the event here.

Second scientific workshop to review the state-of-art in neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research across Europe

The second scientific workshop of WP4 was scheduled to the 28th of February, 2013. The meeting took place in London. The main goal of the workshop was to analyse gaps and advances needed in neurobiological, pharmacological and clinical research in Europe. The workshop was hosted by Professor Gunter Schumann and with the important contribution of the invited experts it was possible to achieve its main aims. Photos and agenda are available for your interest.