Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration

描述（由申请人提供）：阿尔茨海默病药物发现基金会（ADDF）申请U13合作协议拨款，以支持定于2009年2月9日至10日在华盛顿特区举行的神经退行性疾病药物发现会议。会议的目的是通过培训将基础研究转化为新疗法的下一代科学领袖，推进神经退行性疾病的药物发现。关于这一主题的正规教育是必要的，因为在这一研究领域存在记录在案的知识缺口，而且在制药行业之外，了解这些过程的机会很少。这次教学会议的目标显然与NIH的路线图一致：弥合药物发现和神经退行性疾病方面的知识差距；将跨学科的科学家聚集在一起，激发结合技能和学科的新方法；为这些科学家提供交流思想和资源的网络机会；并最终在同行评审、开放获取的科学期刊上发表论文。这个为期两天的会议将为与会者提供有关创造治疗和预防神经退行性疾病的新药的基本知识和资源。它将解决与以下子主题相关的障碍和挑战：药物化学基础；成功和领先：药物发现的早期阶段；临床前概念验证和开发；技术转让问题；询问专家（分组讨论）；促进药物发现的资源和服务。阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病、亨廷顿病、肌萎缩侧索硬化症和“孤儿”神经系统疾病将被纳入该计划。会议将包括3到5个演讲，并有充足的问答时间。关于路线图的公私伙伴关系倡议，ADDF将邀请来自学术界、工业界和NIH的26名国际知名科学家担任主席或发言人。预计这次会议将为来自不同背景的150名科学家提供服务，包括妇女、少数民族、年轻/初级研究人员和研究生。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) requests a U13 Cooperative Agreement grant in support of its Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration conference, scheduled for February 9-10, 2009 in Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting is to advance drug discovery for neurodegenerative disease by training the next generation of scientific leaders on the process of translating basic research into novel therapeutics. Formal education on this topic is needed because there is a documented knowledge gap in this area of research and there are very few opportunities outside of the pharmaceutical industry to learn about these processes. The goals of this didactic conference are clearly consistent with the NIH's Roadmap: to bridge the knowledge gap in drug discovery and neurodegenerative disease; to bring together interdisciplinary scientists to stimulate new ways of combining skills and disciplines; to provide networking opportunities for these scientists to exchange ideas and resources; and to ultimately publish the proceedings in a peer-reviewed, open access scientific journal. This two-day conference will give participants fundamental knowledge and resources on creating new drugs to treat and prevent neurodegenerative disease. It will address the barriers and challenges associated with the following sub-topics: Basics of Medicinal Chemistry; Hits & Leads: Early Phases of Drug Discovery; Pre-Clinical Proof-of-Concept & Development; Issues in Technology Transfer; Ask the Experts (breakout session); and Resources and Services for Advancing Drug Discovery. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and 'Orphan' neurological diseases will be included in the program. Sessions will consist of 3 to 5 presentations with ample time for Q&A. With respect to the public-private partnership initiative of the Roadmap, ADDF will invite 26 internationally recognized scientists from academia, industry and NIH to serve as chairs or speakers. It is anticipated that this conference will serve 150 scientists from diverse backgrounds, including women, minorities, young/junior investigators and graduate students. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The public health problem ADDF seeks to solve is to reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. By offering this conference, ADDF will increase scientists' knowledge of the drug discovery processes and catalyze them to work together to develop commercially viable and effective disease modifying therapies.