Co-Chairs: Steven Potkin, MD; Larry Alphs, MD, PhD
Recent advances in brain biology, neuroimaging technology and genetics have greatly expanded our understanding of neuroscience; however,they have yet to lead to novel treatment interventions. The advent of noninvasive neuroimaging techniques such as diffusion imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has led to the development of the new field of connectomics, where neuronal connectivity is comprehensively mapped at the macroscopic level (studying long-distance pathways for the whole brain) and at the microscopic level (studying axons, dendrites and synapses in a small region of the brain). Similarly, recent developments in virtual computer modeling techniques now allow for assessment of abnormalities at the cellular level and exploration into the ways that they contribute to neuropsychiatric disease symptoms, thus providing vast new insights into how more effective treatments can be developed. While this progress has enormously expanded our potential to understand and address the etiological basis of brain dysfunction, it has not yet been matched by major treatment breakthroughs. For example, psychotic disorders remain poorly understood and continue to represent a significant and, indeed, increasing global disease burden. In fact, considerable genetic, imaging, and treatment response data has been collected by both industry and academia. However, to this point this information has not been optimally shared so as to maximize it value for drug development and so support better treatment for those suffering from psychotic disorders. This workshop will provide an update on an initiative begun at ISCTM 3 years ago on how to bring pharmaceutical industry databases together in a non-competitive environment to accelerate the development of novel neuropsychiatric treatments using some of the emerging techniques of big data management and modeling. Opportunities, challenges and next steps in the organization of this consortium will be discussed.