Mental illness is a major burden to modern societies. All types of mental illness are characterized by abnormal feelings and behavior. The notion that these arise from abnormal neurotransmission has been the key to psychopharmacology for several decades. Currently, it is increasingly recognized that many psychiatric diseases are not merely acquired neurotransmission defects, but rather arise from abnormalities in the wiring of cerebral networks: they have genetic components and are developmental in origin. Among these are the major mental illnesses schizophrenia and bipolar diseases, but also ADHD, compulsive and anxiety disorders, anorexia nervosa, autism, severe stress and others. The basic mechanisms of all these psychiatric illnesses are largely unknown: current research approaches, focused on genetic components and neurodevelopmental processes, will provide new avenues to novel and original drug targets.  

Objectives:

• Differentiate among patients with respect to biomarkers and candidate genes, allowing a more rational prescription of the currently available drugs.
• Understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of psychiatric disorders in order to find new and better drug targets.
• Develop drugs that are selective for these drug targets involved in order to ameliorate psychiatric diseases.