Experimental validation of novel drug targets

Depressive disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current antidepressant drugs targeting monoamine neurotransmitter systems have a delayed onset of action, and less than 50% of the patients attain complete remission after therapy with a single antidepressant. Therefore, intense attention is currently being given to the identification of novel drug targets. The aim of our workshop is to outline research strategies which will help us to identify and charcterize those putative drug targets. The focus of this talk will be genetic modification of CRHR1 function in mice by use of conventional and conditional knockout strategies that allow further analysis of specific elements in the CRH circuitry for which more traditional tools have not existed. The recent characterisation of a number of selective small-molecule CRHR1 antagonists that are currently under extensive preclinical evaluation opens up new avenues for the treatment of anxiety and depression.