This new edition is a comprehensive guide to the intricate world of drug discovery and development. It provides readers with an update on basic and novel concepts, approaches and technologies that are used in the discovery and development of new therapeutics for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). A major aim is to support the education of professionals and specialists in the biomedical neurosciences that will become the innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders of the future. The educational focus is now enhanced by the inclusion of over 150 study questions available in the free Springer Nature Flashcard App, which makes this a unique book in its field.

Divided into five sections, the book starts by introducing concepts and ideas to inspire the next generation of life scientists pursuing careers in drug discovery for CNS diseases.  In the following section, key strategies and methods for identifying and testing novel drug targets are described. New chapters on important topics have been added, that is, the blood brain barrier, mass spectrometry, biased signaling and the exposome. The third section highlights strategies and technologies in translational CNS drug discovery and looks at safety and drug metabolism assessment, imaging techniques and functional testing to investigate drug treatment outcomes. The chapters in the fourth section address the emergence of transdiagnostic approaches as exemplified by the Research Domain Criteria initiative and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Finally, the book concludes with the late stages of drug development, such as the planning and performance of clinical trials, and regulatory approval.

Written by experts from academia and industry, the book covers important fundamentals and best practices as well as current developments in neurotherapeutic research. It offers in-depth insights into the world of drug development and is essential reading for young scientists who are interested in translational research and want to prepare for an academic or industry career in CNS drug discovery.