Translational Therapeutics Program
Overview
This program supports research that seeks to identify and validate targets for intervention development; assess mechanisms of action of putative interventions; identify and validate biomarkers of disease progression and treatment response; demonstrate and evaluate target engagement of proposed interventions; and evaluate their clinical efficacy. The overall goal is to facilitate the development of novel treatments for major mental disorders in adults (ages 18+) and clinical dimensions of psychopathology associated with these disorders.
Areas of Emphasis
- Early-phase (Proof of Mechanism) studies to test and analyze novel pharmacological and neuromodulation interventions and their molecular and/or clinical targets
- Early phase trials focused on evaluating metabolism and pharmacologic actions of interventions in humans, side effects associated with increasing doses, and early analysis of molecular and clinical targets
- Proof of Concept clinical trials to demonstrate target engagement, safety, and early signs of efficacy of promising interventions
- Evaluation of potential biomarkers, including receptor occupancy (PET) and engagement of relevant brain systems (fMRI, clinical electrophysiology, emotional reactivity, neurocognitive performance, etc.) to demonstrate target engagement and biological effects
- Treatment studies integrating biomarkers with traditional endpoints to validate the utility of putative surrogate markers of treatment response
- Studies to predict treatment response and facilitate individualized treatment strategies
- “Repurposing” studies of drugs approved by FDA for other indications when research suggests that the compound(s) has the potential to affect a biological mechanism contributing to mental disorders
- Studies to evaluate the mechanisms of treatment–emergent side effects of psychiatric therapeutics
- Studies to predict treatment-emergent side effects of psychiatric therapeutics and facilitate individualized pharmacological therapeutics
- Studies to identify intervention development to mitigate adverse effects of psychopharmacological and neuromodulation agents
Contact
Jonathan Sabbagh, Ph.D.
Program Chief
6001 Executive Boulevard
301-594-2557, jonathan.sabbagh@nih.gov