Emerging Translational Research in Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases: From In Vitro to In Vivo Models, from Animals to Humans, from Qualitative to Quantitative Methods, 3rd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Translational research is a crucial and complex field in laboratory sciences that focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms, searching for biomarkers, and developing therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders. It involves integrating knowledge from basic neuroscience with the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools that can be applied in clinical practice. The following are some key points on translational research in neurologic and psychiatric diseases:

1. Understanding Pathomechanisms: Translational research aims to uncover the underlying pathomechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This involves studying the molecular factors and neural computations that contribute to brain impairments and mental disorders.
2. Biomarker Discovery: Translational research also focuses on searching for new biomarkers that can aid in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of these diseases. Biomarkers, such as microRNAs, can provide valuable information about disease progression and treatment response.
3. Therapeutic Development: Another important aspect of translational research is the development of novel therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders or the repurposing of drugs. This involves identifying potential targets and testing new treatment approaches in preclinical and clinical settings.
4. Disease Models: In vivo and in vitro disease models play a significant role in translational research. These models help researchers understand the complex polygenic, multifactorial, and heterogeneous disease mechanisms associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders.
5. Sex/Gender and Ageing: Emerging research in translational neuroscience has highlighted the intriguing interaction of sex/gender and aging with the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric diseases. Understanding these factors can lead to more personalized and effective treatments.
6. Disease Range: Translational research encompasses a wide range of diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke sequelae, HIV infection, and various psychiatric disorders.

The Special Issue mentioned in the invitation focuses on the latest developments in translational research in neurologic and psychiatric diseases. It aims to highlight the progress made in understanding these diseases and developing new approaches for diagnosis, treatment, and personalized medicine. Translational research plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between basic scientific knowledge and clinical practice, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of individuals affected by neurological and psychiatric disorders. This Special Issue aims to shed light on the latest research pertaining to the comorbidity of depression, anxiety, dementia, and chronic pain in various diseases.

We cordially invite authors to contribute original research articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following:

• Etiology, pathogenesis, and progression mechanisms;
• Early diagnosis including biomarkers, bio-imaging, biosensors, neuroimaging;
• Methodology;
• Biomaterial biomedical research;
• Prophylactic, disease-modifying, and therapeutic strategies; novel targets;
• Novel drug discovery and development, naturally driven biomedicines, natural bioactive molecules, and vaccines;
• Antidepressants, anti-anxiolytics, cognitive enhancers, analgesics;
• Novel targets in various therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, vascular, hematology, oncology, neurology, orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, and other peripheral systems;
• The repurposing of drugs;
• Biopharmaceutical biomedicine, biologics, biosimilars, nanobiotechnology, nanosimilars, and nanobiosimilars;
• Nanoscaffold implants (synthetic vascular graft), and biosensors;
• Bioimaging, gene therapy, vaccine, cell therapy, and tissue engineering;
• Predictors of clinical treatment responses;
• Preclinical in vitro models, and animal models;
• Bench-to-bedside translation research;
• Bedside-to-bench translational research.
• Computational neuroscience, and computational psychiatry.

Review articles including expert opinions, systematic analysis, metanalysis, and other statistical and analytical methods are also welcome.

Dr. Masaru Tanaka
Dr. Lydia Giménez-Llort
Dr. Simone Battaglia
Topic Editors