Structure-Based Drug Design for Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurological Diseases

Book excerpt: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) supports the collaboration of nationally-funded science and technology research through the creation of networks. COST is the longest-running European framework enhancing cooperation among researchers, engineers and scholars across Europe. The COST Action CM1103 “Structure-based drug design for diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases: dissecting and modulating complex function in the monoaminergic systems of the brain” is a good example of the advances possible through interdisciplinary collaboration on difficult problems. COST Action CM1103 brought together 28 research groups from 18 countries to collaborate for four years on multi-target drug design for complex neuropathologies. The interdisciplinary expertise of the members is spans the range from computational enzymology to human studies, providing outstanding opportunities for the interdisciplinary development of trainees, and is reflected in the articles in this e-book. This Research Topic covers progress in multi-target drug design for the complex neuropathologies of the monoamine system that are apparent, for example, in Alzheimer’s disease. After a mini-review to introduce the topic of multi-target drug design, the other articles review the Research topic from their own perspective, two from computational approaches, three from medicinal chemistry, two from molecular pharmacology, and two from studies in whole brain. This multi-faceted approach describes new compounds, new methodology, and advances in the basic science of understanding the brain. This Ebook is based upon work from COST Action (CM1103 “Structure-based drug design for diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases: dissecting and modulating complex function in the monoaminergic systems of the brain"), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a pan-European intergovernmental framework. Its mission is to enable break-through scientific and technological developments leading to new concepts and products and thereby contribute to strengthening Europe’s research and innovation capacities. It allows researchers, engineers and scholars to jointly develop their own ideas and take new initiatives across all fields of science and technology, while promoting multi- and interdisciplinary approaches. COST aims at fostering a better integration of less research intensive countries to the knowledge hubs of the European Research Area. The COST Association, an International not-for-profit Association under Belgian Law, integrates all management, governing and administrative functions necessary for the operation of the framework. The COST Association has currently 36 Member Countries. www.cost.eu