Neurobiological research: perspectives and future clinical developments

Pubblicato il

Friday, 27 March 2015

Argomento

Glaucoma

The future of neurobiological research in relation to the new structures of pharmaceutical research.

We tried to find out with Derek Bowie, associate professor and senior researcher at McGill University in Montreal (Canada), what are the future prospects of neurobiological research and the new approach to drug research by the large multinational drug companies, with a focus on eye diseases.

What are the main areas of interest on which your scientific research activity is currently focused? And, in particular, could you indicate the areas related to the study of eye diseases?
My laboratory is currently working on several topics related to understanding how vertebrate brain neurons communicate with each other. To this end, we use a multi-disciplinary approach to study the properties of the two main brain receptors for neurotransmitters, namely the excitatory ionotropic glutamate receptors and the inhibitory GABA-A receptors. Our work on GABA-A receptors is focused on understanding the molecular basis of a genetic form of epilepsy, called idiopathic generalised epilepsy. Projects focusing on ionotropic glutamate receptors are aimed at defining their role in neural developmental disorders, such as fragile X-chromosome syndrome and glaucoma.

Are there mechanisms at the cellular level that we are trying to learn more about that may change our understanding of the onset of certain diseases and their clinical course?
On the subject of glaucoma, we recently presented our findings on a new role of a subtype of glutamate receptor, called the AMPA receptor. The AMPA receptor is 'special' in retinal neurons, since it allows the entry of calcium ions from outside. We assumed that up-regulation of these receptors occurs in glaucoma, leading to retinal ganglion cell death.

Which areas of your current research could lead to new clinical treatments in the near future?
The aim of our work on glaucoma is to identify a drug therapy with a new class of drugs. It is still too early to discuss the details, but since current glaucoma therapy is limited to counteracting symptoms only, our approach would aim to prevent the onset of this disease condition.

In your opinion, what should be the correct relationship between scientific research and big pharmaceutical multinationals? Could you mention the situation in your country?
Large multinational drug companies around the world are currently changing their attitude towards research aimed at discovering new drugs. In the past, pharmaceutical companies employed substantial research staff for this purpose. At the present time, an attempt is being made to concentrate investment in drug discovery by smaller biotechnology companies - in effect delegating the traditional activities of the large multinational drug companies. It remains to be seen how effective this change in approach will be in terms of drug discovery. Universities have seen this change as an opportunity for academic institutions to become more involved in translational medicine. How successful this new approach will be remains to be seen. What clearly emerges from a careful analysis of the successes of the last 50 years is the need for collaboration between research scientists, who study basic biological mechanisms, and applied researchers, who aim to develop clinically relevant and economically profitable drugs.

Have the Internet and the new digital media, in your opinion, been helpful to the progress of scientific research? And if so, to what extent?
New technologies are always useful in fostering progress in scientific research. They must not, however, replace the need to train young researchers to cultivate a curious and independent mind.

Derek Bowie, B.Sc., Ph.D.,
Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair in Receptor Pharmacology,
Graduate Programme Director in Pharmacology,
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics,
Bellini Life Sciences Complex, Room 164,
McGill University, 3649 Sir William Osler Promenade,
Montreal, QC, Canada H3G 0B1
Email: derek.bowie@mcgill.ca

Neurobiological research: perspectives and future developments
(original text in English)

We have tried to understand together with Derek Bowie, Associate Professor and senior researcher at Montreal McGill University (Canada), the future development of neurological research and the current approach to drug discovery by Big Pharma... with a special attention to the eye diseases.
Which are the main fields of scientific research you are working on? And in particular which of them are related to the study of eye diseases?
My lab is working on a number of issues that relate to how neurons in the vertebrate brain communicate with each other. To do this, we use a multi-disciplinary approach to study the properties of the two major neurotransmitter receptors of the brain, namely excitatory ionotropic glutamate receptors and inhibitory GABA-A receptors. Our work on GABA-A receptors is focused on trying to understand the molecular basis of a genetic form of epilepsy called idiopathic generalised epilepsy. Projects looking at ionotropic glutamate receptors are looking at their role in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Fragile X syndrome, and glaucoma.

Is there any cellular mechanism we are going to understand better and that can change our comprehension of some disease onset and clinical course?
In glaucoma, we have recently reported a novel role of a glutamate receptor subtype called an AMPA receptor. The AMPA receptor is special in retinal neurons since it allows the transfer of calcium ions from outside. We have postulated that up regulation of these receptors occurs in glaucoma which brings about retinal ganglion cell death.

Which areas of your current research might lead to new clinical therapies in the near future?
The aim of our work on glaucoma is looking at pharmacological intervention with a novel class of drugs. It is too early to discuss the details of this but given that current therapy to treat glaucoma which tackles symptoms only, our approach would be to prevent the onset of the condition.

According to you which should be the correct relationship between scientific research and Big Pharma? Could you briefly describe the situation in your country?
Big Pharma worldwide is currently undergoing a change of mind in how to discover drugs. In the past, pharmaceutical companies employed a sizeable research staff for this purpose. Now there is an attempt to place the emphasis on investing in drug discovery from smaller biotech firms-effectively outsourcing the traditional activity of Big Pharma. It remains to be determined how effective this shift in approach will be in terms of drug discovery. Universities have viewed this change in approach as an opportunity for academic institutions to become more involved in translational medicine. Again it remains to be established how successful this approach will be. What is clear from a perusal of past successes in the last 50 years is that it requires a collaboration between research scientists studying basic biological mechanisms with applied researchers wishing to develop clinically-relevant and economically valuable drugs.

In your opinion internet and the new media have been useful to the progress of scientific research? And how much?
New technologies are always useful in advancing progress in scientific research. However, it does not replace the need to train young researchers with an independent and curious mind.

Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile