A DNEP Translational Workshop with Distinguished Visiting Lecturer, Alan J Cross and interactive panel presentations and discussion.
Alan Cross will present the DNEP visiting lecture from 12:30-1:30. He will survey the current state of the art from his long experience of drug discovery in academia and industry.
The Workshop will have 6 expert panellists to discuss the way forward with Alan. We’ll discuss the approaches - cognitive and molecular subtyping, rodent – human translation, drug repurposing, stem cell models, the role of inflammation. Bring your ideas too.
Alan J Cross: The Search for New Treatments for Psychosis
"Despite 50 years of neuropharmacological research, efforts to discover new treatments for schizophrenia beyond D2 receptor antagonist-based approaches have failed. Genetics/genomics promises to reveal new potential drug targets, although the path to new treatments is unclear and beyond the scope of current efforts. Translational approaches are key to future success: i) genes to targets; ii) drug candidates to proof of concept"
BioSketch
Trained at Department of Biochemistry, University of Sheffield and Institute of Psychiatry, University of London UK, conducted postdoctoral studies at the Division of Psychiatry, MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, and then became Lecturer in Neurochemistry & Physiology, University of Manchester, UK.
Joined Astra in 1986 and held positions as Senior Scientist and Head of Pharmacology at the Astra Neuroscience Research Unit in London UK, and was Project Director for several projects in neurodegeneration and Alzheimers Disease. In 1996 moved to Astra USA, Rochester NY, and then to AstraZeneca Wilmington as Director of Neuroscience and Disease Area Leader, Psychiatry working across the interface between Discovery, Development and Commercial organizations to formulate and update the Disease Area Strategy. Interim Site Head at AstraZeneca CNS Discovery Wilmington, responsible for >250 personnel.
Appointed Chief Scientist in 2010, and joined the AstraZeneca Neuroscience Innovative Medicines Unit in Cambridge, MA in 2012 until 2016.
Currently acts as an advisor to the National Institute of Mental Health, Lieber Institute of Brain Development and AstraZeneca Neuroscience and is Chief Scientific Officer at Cylenta Pharmaceuticals.
Leads and is involved in a range of collaborations with government, academic, biotech and privately funded organizations, ranging from genomics and iPS cell modeling to early clinical development and Phase 2 PoC studies. Over 200 publications in the area of neuropharmacology, neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric disorders and inventor on 4 patents.
Register via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dnep-translational-lecture-and-workshop-tickets-44833005727
Program
12:00 Lunch finger buffet "Food for Thought" café, Zochonis Building
12:30 - 1:30
DNEP Distinguished Visitor Lecture Alan Cross:
The search for new treatments for psychosis
1:30 - 3:00 Workshop session 1
Finding new treatments for schizophrenia
Molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, subtyping and treatments
Chair: Alison Yung
1:30
Neil Hanley (Developmental Medicine) New genes and target mechanisms from human neurodevelopment
1:50
Bill Deakin (DNEP) Dopamine, glutamate and GABA function and clinical subtypes
2:10
Peter Talbot (DNEP) Inflammation and psychosis; implications for treatment
2:30 General discussion with Panel
2:40 - 3:00 Tea Coffee
3:00 - 4:30 Workshop session 2
Neural systems; targets, biomarkers, subtyping and treatments
Chair: Shon Lewis
3:00
Rebecca Elliott (DNEP) Social, emotional and motivational cognitive processes – potential surrogates for efficacy?
3:20
Jo Neill (Pharmacy) Modelling cognition and aspects of negative symptoms from rodents to humans
4:00
Brief ideas session
Bo Yao: Modelling and measuring hallucinations in psychosis
Others: EEG, MEG, Primary cortical dysfunction……?
4:15
Finding new treatments for psychosis: concluding discussion
Allan Cross and Panel
4:30 Close
