CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets

Dr. Gjumrakch Aliev, MD, PhD, President “GALLY” International Biomedical Research Institute Inc., San Antonio, Texas, USA. He also hold appointment with the University of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA as a Professor of Cardiovascular, Neuropathology, Gerontology, Health Science and Healthcare Administration and as a Leading Scientist , Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds. Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow Region, Chernogolovka, Russian Federation . He received his MD in 1982, from the Baku Medical University (former USSR) with cum laude. Then he accomplished his PhD in Cardiovascular Diseases from the prestigious Russian Academy of the Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia in 1988 with cum laude. He received postdoctoral training with Professor G. Burnstock in the University College of the London. He authored and coauthored more than 500 publications in the fields of neurodegenerative diseases research (Alzheimer disease), as well as cardio- and cerebrovascular disease, cancer, and electron microscopy.

Dr Nady Braidy is a neuroscientist with a Ph.D. degree that was awarded to him in 2011 from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Dr. Braidy has international recognition in the field of Alzheimer research and specializes in neural cell therapeutics. Dr. Braidy also holds a graduate certificate in research management (with distinction), Diploma in innovation management (with distinction), M.S. degree in pharmacy, University of Sydney, and B.S. degree in medical science (class I honors in pharmacology and physiology with distinction) University of New South Wales. Dr. Braidy has published over 80 peer-reviewed research papers, 5 book chapters, and 2 books and is an inventor in 1 accepted international patent.

Dr. Luo obtained a Medical Doctor (M.D.) from Chinese Medical University, Shenyang and got a doctoral (Ph.D) in Neurology from Huashan Hospital of Fudan University. Currently Dr. Luo is a Professor in Department of Neurology of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University and director of Cerebrovascular Diseases Research Institute of Capital Medical University. Dr. Luo also a Chairman of neurological committee of Beijing Association of traditional Chinese medicine and Western Medicine. She has published more than 180 scientific publications.

Prof. Machado obtained his Ph.D. at Institute of Psychiatry of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Currently Prof. Machado is also of Post-Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Mental Health at Institute of Psychiatry of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), and of Professor of Post-Graduate Program of Physical Activity Sciences at Salgado de Oliveira University. He has published more than 190 scientific publications, one book and 15 book chapters. Prof. Machado is currently Editorial Board Member of CNS Neurological Disorders – Drug Targets, Clinical Practice and Epidemiology and Mental Health.

Prof. Dr. M. Maes is a physician-psychiatrist and translational scientist who obtained his doctorate (Ph.D.) from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Currently, Dr. Maes is affiliated with different Universities, including Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Deakin University, Australia; Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria and State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil. Dr. Maes is a highly cited (ISI, Thomson Reuters) scientist and author (H-index>100) who published more than 650 scientific papers in peer-reviewed international journals. He gave more than 300 lectures at different international symposia. The work of Dr. Maes covers phenomenological and epidemiological aspects of mood disorders and the supra-multi-disciplinary field of “pathway and drug discovery processes” in depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and more particularly the immune-inflammatory pathways and its connections and sequels.

Dr. Kevin Murnane is an Assistant Professor at the Mercer University College of Pharmacy. He received a B.S. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Georgia and a PhD in Neuroscience from Emory University. His research group is focused on the etiology and treatment of disorders of the central nervous system. Areas of special emphasis include autism, substance abuse, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The Murnane group directly or through collaboration uses techniques such as computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug formulation, cell biology, molecular biology, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, behavioral pharmacology, operant conditioning, and neuroimaging.

Maurizio Pompili, M.D, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Suicidology as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, where he received his M.D. degree, where he trained in Psychiatry (both summa cum laude) and where he has doctoral degree in Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences. He is the Director of the Suicide Prevention Center at Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome. He was also part of the Community at McLean Hospital – Harvard Medical School, USA where he received a fellowship in psychiatry. He is the Director of Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Sapienza University of Rome He is the recipient of the American Association of Suicidology’s 2008 Shneidman Award for “Outstanding contributions in research in suicidology”. He is the Vice-President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and member of the International Academy for Suicide Research and the American Association of Suicidology.

I am a professor of General Pathology and Immunology at “G.d’Annunzio” University Chieti- Pescara, Italy. I received my Biological Sciences degree from “Alma Mater Studiorum” University of Bologna, Italy and my PhD In Experimental Medicine from “La Sapenza”, University of Rome, Italy. I have authored of 140 peer-reviewed pubblication and 3 book chapter in neuroimmunology, inflammatory diseases and cytokines. My current research deals with the modulation of nonneuronal anti-inflammatory pathway of cholinergic system in peripheral blood cells, with particular focus on its role in neurodegenerative diseases.

Seyed Khosrow Tayebati Was born in 1961. He is the Associate Professor of Human Anatomy at School of Pharmacy of Camerino University in Italy. Professor Tayebati is Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Pisa. During his post-doc period, using suitable animal models, he studied different neurotransmitter systems, brain morphological features, effects of hypertension on different cerebral areas and their microvascular system both in normal ageing and in neurodegenerative diseases. Professor Tayebati has a particular interest in drug development and therapy of mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. He has authored or co-authored over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as chapters in books, etc.

Dr. Andrews obtained a doctorate in Human Development (Harvard), a doctorate in Medicine (Dartmouth), and a neurosurgery residency (Stanford). The first half of his 30-year career was on the neurosurgical faculty at four universities (including Stanford), the second half in private practice in Silicon Valley. His research has centered on novel neurosurgery techniques as an Associate at NASA Ames Research Center (a NASA patent-holder), most recently with NASA Nanotechnology and the Mayo Clinic developing nanoarrays for the brain-machine interface. He has authored/co-authored over 75 peer-reviewed articles, over 40 book chapters, and two books – as well as making over 250 presentations at major national/international meetings (many as invited speaker). He has been a reviewer for many neurosurgical/neuroscience journals, is on the editorial board of several journals, and is president of the International Conference on Neuroprotective Agents.

Caterina Bendotti, obtained the degree in Pharmacy at the Università di Milano and PhD in Neuropharmacology at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research (IRFMN) in Milano,Italy. Currently, she is the head of the laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology at IRFMN and her research interest mainly focuses on the study of pathogenic mechanisms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Dr. Bendotti is first /last and co-author of 141 peer-reviewed articles ( H index= 37) and she is reviewer of 15 international scientific journals and of grant funding international agencies.

Dr. Tao Cai is a Staff Scientist at NIDCR, NIH. His research interests include translational medicine and underlying mechanism of human diseases. Dr. Cai has authored or coauthored more than 70 scientific publications. He is on the editorial boards of CNS & Neurological Disorders‐Drug Targets, Plos One, and several other scientific journals, and also a faculty member in Medical Genetics of F1000Prime.

Dr. Caraci graduated MD in 2001, in Catania University (Catania, Italy) and he got his PhD degree in Neuropharmacology, in 2009.In June 2011 he was appointed Assistant Professor in Pharmacology at University of Catania and Visiting Professor at University of Bordeaux in February-March 2016 as winner of the Visiting Scholar Grant 2016. He has published more than 80 papers in peer reviewed journals and he is also Associate Editor of Frontiers in Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery. Dr. Caraci has worked in the field of drug discovery in depression and Alzheimer’s disease with the aim to identify new pharmacological targets. Dr. Caraci has been studying the physiology and pharmacology of TGF-ß1 and its role in the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in AD.

Dr. Choudary obtained a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in microbiology and biochemistry from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He also holds a M.Sc. (Hons.) degree of Bombay University in Botany, with Mycology & Plant Pathology major. Dr. Choudary currently is a Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine in the University of California Davis School of Medicine. He is co-author of 80 papers and 50 patent applications, with 10 patents granted. Professor Choudary is currently an editor of this journal (CNS & Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets, CNSNDDT), published by Bentham Science Publishers.

Cristoforo Comi received his M.D. degree from the University of Milan, Italy, board certification in neurology, and Ph.D. degree in molecular medicine from the University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO). He is Associate Professor of Neurology and Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurology at UPO, Novara, Italy. His area of expertise includes the molecular bases of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. His main research achievements are regarding the role of T-cell apoptosis in neuroinflammatory diseases and the study of proinflammatory genes and cytokines in neurodegenerative diseases. Current studies are concerned with the role of immunity and inflammation in chronic neurodegeneration, with a special focus on identifying biomarkers of disease progression.

Full Professor of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina. Graduated in Pharmacy and Medicine and Onorary Professor in Pharmacology, University of Manchester (UK). Prof. Cuzzocrea received a doctorate (PhD) in “Experimental Medicine” School of Medicine University of Messina. Author of more than 600 publications including articles in peer reviewed international journals and scientific books. Editor and referee for several international journals. He encompass research activities with specific competences at international levels in the field of autoimmunity, inflammation and neurodegenerative disorders as well as drug development.

Dr. Vincenzo Di Marzo is a Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry of the National Research Council (ICB-CNR) in Naples, Italy, and coordinator of the Endocannabinoid Research Group in the Naples region. He was awarded a ChemD from the University of Naples in 1983, and a PhD in Biochemistry and molecular pharmacology from Imperial College in London in 1988. He is co-author of over 640 articles published in peer-reviewed journals (H index 109 according to Scopus). In 2014- 2016 he has been listed among the Highly Cited Researchers (top 1% in the world) in all scientific disciplines, according to Thomson Reuters (www.highlycited.com). He has been the recipient of numerous research grants and awards, including: a Human Frontier Science Program research grant to study the biosynthesis, metabolism, and structure-activity relationships of anandamide; a Merkator Fellowship for Foreign Scientists by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinshaft; the Mechoulam Award for “his outstanding contributions to cannabinoid research”; the Luigi Tartufari award for Chemistry from the Italian Academy of Sciences (Accademia dei Lincei); the “Ester Fride Award for Basic Science” from the International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines. In October 2014 he was awarded the International Award “Guido Dorso” for Research, and in May 2016 the Medal of the Italian Accademia delle Scienze, or of the XL, for Physical and Natural Sciences.

Dr. Christian Felder received a BS in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary, and his PhD in Biochemistry from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is currently a Research Fellow in the Neuroscience Division at Eli Lilly & Co. in Indianapolis where he leads a drug development research lab focused on neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. He is also the program Director for the external Lilly Innovation Fellowship Awards program (LIFA) and internal Lilly Research Labs post doc program. Dr. Felder has published over 130 scientific articles, reviews and book chapters and has had numerous invitations to speak at universities and international scientific conferences.

Dr. Huile Gao received his PhD in Pharmaceutics from School of Pharmacy, Fudan University in 2013 under the supervision of Prof. Xinguo Jiang. Then he joined the West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University as an Instructor in July 2013 and was promoted to an Associate Professor in July 2014. Dr. Gao’s research interests focus on the design, synthesis, characterization and evaluation of stimuli responsive nanomaterials for drug and imaging probe delivery to improve treatment and diagnosis of human diseases especially tumor and brain diseases. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles with an H-index of 28.

Ms. Yanqin Gao hold a B.S. in Chemistry from the Nanjing University in China. Currently Currently Ms. Gao is of the State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology at Fudan University. She has published more than 90 scientific publications. Prof. Gao has been a regular reviewer for more than 20 prominent peer reviewed journals, including Stroke, Neurobiologyof Disease, CNS Neurosic & Therapeutics, Neurosci & Biobehavioral Reviews, Developmental Neuroscien, J neurosci res, Metabolic Brain Disease, J Pharm Pharmacol.

Professor Manuel Graeber MD PhD FRCPath is a neuropathologist and the Barnet-Cropper Chair and Director of Brain Tumour Research at the University of Sydney. Following a position as staff member at the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry in Munich, Germany, he spent three years as a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA. From 1992 to1999 he returned to Munich where he headed a molecular neuropathology laboratory first at the University of Munich and then at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology. In 2000, Manuel Graeber founded the University Department of Neuropathology at Imperial College London. He decided to close down the Department for ethical reasons related to brain banking and won a whistle-blowing case in 2008 with funding and support from the British Medical Association.

Dr. Aldric Hama is Study Director at Hamamatsu Pharma Research, Inc., Hamamatsu, Japan. He obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) from the University of Illinois at Chicago, majoring in Anatomy and Cell Biology with a minor in Neuroscience. Dr. Hama’s main interests include the mechanism of chronic pain, development of preclinical in vivo models of chronic pain and the drug discovery process for analgesics.

Dr. Sadayuki Hashioka is an associate professor of Department of Psychiatry, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan. He received his MD in 1998 from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan. After four years of clinical work as a psychiatrist, he received his PhD in 2006 from the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. His thesis was on the relationship between the aggregation state of beta amyloid protein and microglial activation. He subsequently obtained five-year training as a postdoctoral fellow under Drs. Edith and Patrick McGeer at the Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Under the supervision of those pioneers in the field of neuroinflammation. He is currently an editorial board member of this journal, also an associate editor for “Frontiers in Neuroscience” and a regional editor for “Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry”. His recent research is focused on neuroinflammation associated with chronic glial activation and their neurotoxicity not only in neurodegenerative diseases, but also in psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Levant earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology from Duke University and a Masters of Public Administration from the Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, University of Missouri Kansas City. She is a Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics at the University of Kansas Medical Center, has published more 100 scientific articles and book chapters, and is a named inventor on two patents.

Dr. Massa obtained an M.D. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Rochester, and completed a Residency in Neurology and post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco. He is currently a Principal Investigator and Staff Physician at the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Professor of Neurology at UCSF. He has had a long-standing interest in structural aspects of molecular and cellular binding interactions, and founded the Laboratory for Computational Neurochemistry and Drug Discovery at the SFVAMC. Current research interests include small molecules that modulate neurotrophin receptor systems and their therapeutic applications.

Dr. Melis studied Pharmacy at the University of Palermo and received a Doctoral (PhD) training in Neuroscience at the University of Cagliari, Italy. Dr. Melis performed postdoctoral training with Prof. Antonello Bonci at the Gallo Clinic and Research Center/UCSF, USA (2000-2002). Currently, Dr. Melis is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences (Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology) in Cagliari. She has published more than 60 scientific publications and collaborates in the editorial board of ‘CNS & Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets’ since 2013.

Dr. Mocchetti has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Milan, Italy. Dr. Mocchetti is currently Professor and Vice-Chair of Neuroscience at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC. He has published more than 130 scientific publications and is a named inventor of 1 issued U.S. patent. Dr. Mocchetti was the past president of the Neurotoxicity Society and is currently on the editorial board of four journals.

Flavio Moroni obtained his M.D. degree and then the title of specialist in Toxicology and in Anesthesiology from the University of Florence, Italy. After a few years of post-doctoral training at NIMH, Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington D.C. (USA), he became full Professor of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Florence and Director of the Clinical Unit in Toxicology, Careggi University Hospital. Dr. Moroni is now Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology at University of Florence. Scientific contribution have been given in the field of excitatory neurotransmission, neurotoxicity and clinical toxicology with approximately 250 referred papers and several approved patents in this field. Original neuroprotectant agents able to reduce brain damage in animal stroke and toxicity models have been described and developed. Clinical protocols for the treatments of acute and chronic intoxication have been described and validated (Mushroom poisoning; Cyanide poisoning; Drugs of abuse).

Professor of Neurology, Senior Neurologist, Chairman of the Neurosciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu” Cluj-Napoca, President of the Romanian Society of Neurology, President of the Society for the Study of Neuroprotection and Neuroplasticity (SSNN), member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Romania, secretary of its Cluj Branch. He is also member of 13 scientific international societies (being member of the American Neurological Association (ANA) - Fellow of ANA (FANA) since 2012) and 7 national ones, being part of the executive board of most of these societies. Professor Dafin F. Muresanu is a specialist in Leadership and Management of Research and Health Care Systems (specialization in Management and Leadership, Arthur Anderson Institute, Illinois, USA, 1998 and several international courses and training stages in Neurology, research, management and leadership). Professor Dafin F.

Dr. Antonio Nardi is full professor of Psychiatry at Medical School, Institute of Psychiatry, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He is also a member of the Brazilian National Academy of Medicine, International Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is the founder and director of the Laboratory of Panic & Respiration of the Institute of Psychiatry - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Dr. Antonio Nardi is an Editor-in-Chief of the Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria (Thomson Reuters Web of Science - impact factor = 2.181), Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria (Scielo) and associate editor of numerous Brazilian and international scientific journals. He has published more than 500 scientific articles, over 75 book chapters, 9 published books and organizer of 12 books.

Dr. Yukihiro Ohno obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Pharmacology/Physiology from Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, in 1987. Dr. Ohno currently works as a Professor of pharmacology at the Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka, Japan. His major research fields are neuropharmacology, especially the research on novel medications for schizophrenia, anxiety-depression, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. He also serves as an Editor in several scientific journals (e.g., CNS & Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets, Front. Pharmacol., J. Pharmacol. Sci., Ther. Targets Neurol Dis.).

Dr. Olive obtained his doctotate (Ph.D.) in Neuroscience from the University of California at Los Angeles. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. His research focuses on the neurobiology of drug addiction and he has authored more than 130 scientific publications and book chapters.

Dr Papaleo obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Neuropharmacology at the University of Padova, Italy. He also spent 4 research year at the University of Bordeaux, France and then moved as postdoctorate fellow in USA at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda for other 5 years. Currently Dr. Papaleo is group leader and senior researcher at the Neuroscience and Brain Technologies department of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy. He is also an Adjunct Faculty Investigator at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. Baltimore, MD, USA. He has published more than 150 scientific publications and is a named inventor of 60 issued U.S patents. Dr. Papaleo is first or last author and corresponding author of more than 30 publications in renewed international journals.

Dr. Marie-Claude Potier obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Neuropharmacology from the University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris. She also holds a PharmD from the University of Pharmacy, Paris. Currently Dr. Potier is team leader at the Brain and Spine Institute (ICM) at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris on Alzheimer’s disease and prions diseases. Het main topics of interest are on Alzheimer’s disease and the role of lipids and ApoE, and Down syndrome. She has published more than 110 publications and is a named inventor of 5 issued U.S and European patents.

Dr. Rocha obtained a doctorate (PhD) in Psychology from the University of Porto ,Portugal. Currently Dr. Rocha is a professor at the Porto Polytechnic - Health School and an invited professor for the MSc Program in Psychology - Mental Health and Psychosocial Rehabilitation at the University of Porto . He is also senior associated researcher at the Rehabilitation Lab of P. Porto - Health School. Dr. Rocha has published more than 60 scientific publications in the fields of psychiatric rehabilitation, cognitive training and neuromodulation.

Dr. Réus obtained degree in Biology and doctorate (Ph.D.) in Health Sciences from University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC), Brazil (2007 and 2011). Dr. Réus completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at UNESC, Brazil (2014) and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, USA (2015). Currently, Dr. Réus is an assistant Professor at UNESC, Brazil. Dr. Réus works on behavior and neurochemical alterations of psychiatric disorders focusing on animal models of mood disorders, mainly major depressive disorders (MDD). In addition, Dr. Réus studies the relation between glutamatergic system and MDD, and new therapeutic targets for MDD treatment. Dr. Réus has authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Réus was awarded with “For Women in Science from ABC/L ́Oreal/UNESCO” and “Samuel Gershon Awards for Junior Investigators from International Society for Bipolar Disorders”. Currently Dr. Réus is an editorial board member of CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets.

Dr. Abel Santamaría obtained a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) and a Master degree as well, both in Physiological Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Currently, Dr. Santamaría is Senior Researcher in the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico. He has published more than 100 scientific publications.

Gianluca Serafini obtained his degree in Medicine at Sapienza University of Rome, later becoming psychiatrist. In 2012, he obtained his Ph.D. in Psychiatry and he is currently Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at University of Genoa, Hospital San Martino, Italy. His major research interests include: psychopathology/neurobiology of major affective disorders and suicidal behaviour and, neuropsycho-pharmacology. Prof. Serafini published more than 200 scientific contributions and he was speaker/chairman in more than 180 national/international conferences. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Medical Disorders, and Associate Editor of Current Pharmacogenomics Ȧ Personalized Medicine, Frontiers in Psychiatry, and Advances in Medical Informatics. He currently serves as reviewer for more than 130 and he is Editorial/Advisory Board member of more than 55 peer-reviewed international Journals.

Dr. Shah obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Toxicology from Hamdard University, New Delhi and postdoctoral trainings at The University of Louisville, Louisville KY and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Currently, Dr. Shah is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry at the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH. The focus of Dr. Shah’s research is to investigate target and drug development for ischemic and hemorrhagic brain injury. Dr. Shah has published more than 52 scientific publications and trained a number of graduate and undergraduate students. Dr. Shah is currently in the editorial board of this journal (CNS & Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets), published by Bentham Science Publishers.

Dr. Siklós holds a Masters in Physics and obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Biophysics from the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. Dr. Siklós also holds a D. Sci. from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Currently Dr. Siklós is the head of the Molecular Neurobiology Research Unit of the Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary. He has published more than 70 scientific publications. Dr. Siklós is currently an editorial board member of this journal (CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets), published by Bentham Science Publishers.

Dr. Skolnick is the Director, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH. He served as Chief Scientific Officer (2001-2009) and President (2007-2009) of DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. Dr. Skolnick was a Lilly Research Fellow (Neuroscience) at Lilly Research Laboratories (1997-2000). Prior to this, he served as Chief, Laboratory of Neuroscience, at the NIH from 1986-1997. He has twice been awarded the Doctor of Science, honoris causa. Dr. Skolnick has co authored more than 550 articles. The Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) has named him to the elite group of “Highly Cited” authors.

Dr. Spina graduated in Medicine, specialized in Neurology and in Psychiatry at the University of Messina, Italy. He obtained a doctorate (Ph.D) in Clinical Pharmacology at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. Currently, Dr. Spina is Professor of Pharmacology at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina. His main scientific interest is clinical neuropsychopharmacology. Dr. Spina authored more than 200 articles in international journals and 2 books. He is Associate Editor of Frontiers in Pharmacogenetics and member of the editorial board of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology and Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.

Graduated cum laude in Medicine, he got residency in both Neurology and Clinical Pharmacology. Currently, he is full professor of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy at the Medical School of SAPIENZA University of Rome. He is author of more than 165 publications in high impacted international journals and of a number of books in the field of neuropsychopharmacology and neurobiology. He is member of the editorial board of many prestigious international journals. Prof. Steardo has carried out part of his research activity in US at NIH, at the Harvard Medical School and in U.K. at the Department of Neurophysiology – Oxford University, as visiting scientist. He has been NIH consultant and member of the WHO - World Psychiatry Association Task Force. Moreover, Prof. Steardo he is permanent member of Academia Europea.

Prof. Stifani obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB, Canada. He also holds a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Rome, Italy. Currently, Prof. Stifani is a James McGill Professor in the Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery and Anatomy & Cell Biology at McGill University, in Montreal, QC, Canada. He is the Associate Director (Academic Affairs) of the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University. Prof. Stifani is the Secretary-General of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience and is an Executive Editor of the journals Gene and Meta Gene.

Dr. Town received his Ph.D. in neuroscience with distinction from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, in 2002. He then completed post-doctoral work and a junior faculty position at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Immunobiology, Yale University in 2008. That same year, he was appointed associate professor at both Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was the inaugural holder of the Ben Winters Endowed Chair in Regenerative Medicine from 2008–2013. Dr. Town was promoted to full professor in 2013 and relocated to the University of Southern California that same year. He has received several prestigious career awards, including the Julie Martin Mid-career Award in Aging Research from the American Federation for Aging Research/Ellison Medical Foundation and the Zenith Fellows Award from the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dr. Túnez obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Medicine by Biochemistry area from the University of Cordoba, Spain. Dr. Túnez also holds a Master in Health Science Research Methodology from University of Cordoba, Spain; and an intensive course in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation from Harvard Medical School. Currently Dr. Túnez is also a full Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing from University of Cordoba. He has published more than 120 scientific publications. Dr. Túnez is currently Vicechancellor for personnel of the University of Cordoba, Spain.

Prof. Li Volti graduated from the school of Medicine and obtained a doctorate (PhD) in Pediatrics at the University of Catania, Italy. Currently Prof. Li Volti is Associate Professor at the school of Medicine of the University of Catania and he is also chairman of the Department of the EuroMediterranean Institute of Science and Technology of Palermo (Italy). He has published more than 150 scientific publications and serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. He is also Associate Editor of Frontiers in Pharmacology and member of the editorial board of PlosOne and Medicine.

Dr Yun Wang obtained his PhD in Physiology from the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. Dr Wang currently serves as a professor and principle investigator in the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. He has published more than 50 scientific papers in neurophysiology and neuropharmacology area.

Dr. Zhang obtained a doctorate (M.D.) from the Henan Medical University, Zhengzhou, China, and a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Neurosurgery from the Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Currently Dr. Zhang is an Assistant Professor of Neurology in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He has published about 60 scientific publications. Dr. Zhang is currently a member of editorial board of this journal (CNS & Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets), published by Bentham Science Publishers.