The central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and the spinal cord and functions as a central hub of information throughout the entire body. Disorders of the CNS have many consequences such as memory loss, severe headaches, pain, seizures, and slurred speech among others. Unfortunately, success in developing new drugs for CNS diseases and conditions remains limited despite considerable technological progress in recent years. To accelerate the process of developing new drugs and treatments for CNS disorders, we propose to establish the Center for Accelerating Neuroscience Drug and Imaging Development (CANDID), a central platform that will improve the efficiency of the drug discovery process for CNS diseases in Canada by developing specific tools and state-of-the-art biotechnologies to increase our capability to identify, test, and validate new CNS drug candidates. This goal will be achieved through a consortium of experts in : 1) chemistry, to widen the possibilities of finding new drugs; 2) mass spectrometry, to develop novel methods to follow the movements of various drug candidates in organs and tissues; 3) stem cells and cellular models, to rapidly assess the capabilities of drug candidates to reach and penetrate brain tissue 4) medical imaging including radiotracer development, to diagnose early brain diseases, and 5) standardized experimental approaches, to improve the accuracy of animal studies and successfully predict the clinical efficacy of new CNS drug candidates. Overall, we propose to develop all the tools and platforms needed for the CNS drug discovery process, from basic research to patient benefit, all centralized at one single site in Canada. CANDID will also train the next generation of highly qualified scientific personnel to support the development of CNS drug for a future personalized medicine, and to ensure the growth of Canadian companies in the biopharmaceutical and biomedical sectors.
