About this Research Topic
World Schizophrenia Awareness Day is commemorated every May 24. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the mental illness that affects over 20 million people worldwide. This awareness highlights the need for deeper scientific discourse on schizophrenia to approach a comprehensive understanding of its etiological and therapeutic landscapes.
This Research Topic is focused on the etiology, novel therapeutic targets, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia. By weaving together these diverse threads of inquiry, the hope is to not only elucidate the complexities of schizophrenia but also to begin to lay a foundation to chart a robust scientific roadmap towards improved diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, improved quality of life for all individuals touched by this illness.
The collection will encompass (but it's not limited to) topics like:
Preclinical research on the etiology and treatment of schizophrenia
- Novel molecular pathways implicated in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia in areas such as synaptic maintenance, glutamate and/or GABA signaling, inflammatory or immunologic processes, bioenergetics, and epigenetic modifications
- Synaptic loss in schizophrenia from a molecular, synaptic structural, or circuit-level perspective
- “Omics” based approaches and their impact on understanding the etiology of schizophrenia and providing novel therapeutic targets
- The role of retrotransposons and their potential involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia
- Preclinical models of schizophrenia including genetic models
Biomarkers for diagnosis and evaluation of efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia
- Imaging-based approaches to schizophrenia biomarker development including measures of synaptic density, function, and bioenergetic states
- EEG-based biomarkers including challenges to validation and reproducibility
- Fluid-based biomarkers including plasma and CSF
Clinical approaches: opportunities and challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia
- Approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and the challenge of polypharmacy
- Genetic polymorphisms and their association with schizophrenia risk and treatment response
- Precision medicine and the promise of treatment refinement based on patient stratification by diagnostic biomarkers and genetic testing
- Experimental design and methods in schizophrenia research, such as longitudinal studies and case-control studies
- Methods and design to improve clinical translation of novel therapeutic approaches
- Drug repurposing
These topics provide a solid foundation to explore various aspects of schizophrenia, including its etiological basis, potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targeted therapies, and different research methodologies for preclinical and clinical investigation.
Michael J. Marino is an employee of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and potentially owns stock and/or holds stock options in Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
This Research Topic is focused on the etiology, novel therapeutic targets, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia. By weaving together these diverse threads of inquiry, the hope is to not only elucidate the complexities of schizophrenia but also to begin to lay a foundation to chart a robust scientific roadmap towards improved diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, improved quality of life for all individuals touched by this illness.
The collection will encompass (but it's not limited to) topics like:
Preclinical research on the etiology and treatment of schizophrenia
- Novel molecular pathways implicated in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia in areas such as synaptic maintenance, glutamate and/or GABA signaling, inflammatory or immunologic processes, bioenergetics, and epigenetic modifications
- Synaptic loss in schizophrenia from a molecular, synaptic structural, or circuit-level perspective
- “Omics” based approaches and their impact on understanding the etiology of schizophrenia and providing novel therapeutic targets
- The role of retrotransposons and their potential involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia
- Preclinical models of schizophrenia including genetic models
Biomarkers for diagnosis and evaluation of efficacy in the treatment of schizophrenia
- Imaging-based approaches to schizophrenia biomarker development including measures of synaptic density, function, and bioenergetic states
- EEG-based biomarkers including challenges to validation and reproducibility
- Fluid-based biomarkers including plasma and CSF
Clinical approaches: opportunities and challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia
- Approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and the challenge of polypharmacy
- Genetic polymorphisms and their association with schizophrenia risk and treatment response
- Precision medicine and the promise of treatment refinement based on patient stratification by diagnostic biomarkers and genetic testing
- Experimental design and methods in schizophrenia research, such as longitudinal studies and case-control studies
- Methods and design to improve clinical translation of novel therapeutic approaches
- Drug repurposing
These topics provide a solid foundation to explore various aspects of schizophrenia, including its etiological basis, potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targeted therapies, and different research methodologies for preclinical and clinical investigation.
Michael J. Marino is an employee of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and potentially owns stock and/or holds stock options in Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
Keywords: #CollectionSeries, Schizophrenia Awareness Day, etiology and treatment of schizophrenia, Biomarkers, Clinical approaches
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