Translational Research and Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration: Challenges for Latin America

Abstract

Perhaps one of the most significant scientific challenges is to understand the human brain. Neuroscience research has had a considerable impact on individuals, families, and society. However, before we can have a real impact on public health, we need a greater understanding of biological processes that underlie the wide variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, depression, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, and many others. It is a great challenge and responsibility of science to unravel the brain's secrets through translational research and drug discovery in order to improve the lives of individuals with these devastating conditions. In the past decade, outstanding discoveries have been made that have made possible novel and multidisciplinary approaches to understanding the brain's mysteries.