Bücher der Reihe Ernst Schering Foundation Symposium Proceedings

In modern drug discovery and development, chemical synthesis is one of the key technologies. For the rapid preparation of new test compounds and drug development candidates, several innovative technologies with great potential have emerged.

This book offers an insight into the approaches taken by industry and academia to address GPCRs and depict how mature this target class-oriented research has become in the last decade. Coverage also reflects the actual trends in the fast-emerging field of GPCR research in academia and industry.

This book offers an insight into the approaches taken by industry and academia to address GPCRs and depict how mature this target class-oriented research has become in the last decade. Coverage also reflects the actual trends in the fast-emerging field of GPCR research in academia and industry.

Combined oral contraceptives are the most convenient and accepted method of hormonal contraception. Nevertheless, the medical community and consumers constantly demand innovation, additional benefits during use and lower hormonal load despite the high safety profile of available products. At the Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop 52, new perspectives and mechanisms for tissue-selective, estrogen-free contraception were discussed. The aim of the workshop was to bring together experts in the field of molecular and pharmacodynamic action of progestins with clinicians and medical experts to discuss potential medical endpoints, physiological reactions and (bio)marker useful describing the tissue selectivity and the contraceptive action of new progestins in different target organs. A major factor for successful realization of these new concepts is a deeper understanding of local pharmacological responses to progestins in general and to new progestins in particular.

Introducing neuroinflammation and its involvement in human neurodegenerative disease, this text discusses the microglia and their response to brain injury, the importance of the chemokine family, experimental models of BSE, scrapie and vCJD as well as Alzheimer's disease, stroke and MS.

An essential component of inflammation is the migration of circulating leukocytes from blood into tissues. The first step of leukocyte extravasation, the rolling of leukocytes, is primarily mediated by the interactions of selectins and their ligands.

The evidence that these effects are mediated through the estrogen receptor(s) is based on similar but not always identical phenotypes as observed in experimental animal models of estrogen receptor mutations as well as the single clinical case of an estrogen receptor alpha mutant patient.

A number of chapters present the most novel research on testicular and epididymal functions or on more general fields of hormone action and molecular cell biology as it is now a tradition.

In autumn 2002, the Ernst Schering Research Foundation Workshop sponsored the 45th in its series of conferences devoted to emerging areas in basic and applied biomedical research. These conferences bring together a critical mass of top scientists working in an impor­ tant area in an intimate setting that fosters the free exchange of knowledge and ideas. In this spirit, Workshop 45 assembled leaders in the field of chemokines - hemotactic cytokines that coordinate leukocyte trafficking - amid the scenic vineyards and wineries of Napa Valley, to discuss the latest concepts of how these molecules regulate the immune response and disease. Chemokines were se­ lected as a conference topic because they have revitalized the study of leukocyte trafficking and are widely considered to be potential new targets for drug development, in diseases ranging from acute in­ flammation and autoimmunity to HIV and cancer. Discovered in the 1980s, the chemokine superfamily currently has 43 human members, making it the largest subset of cytokines. Mem­ bers are defined by conserved sequences and a common three-di­ mensional fold, and can be divided into two major functional groups - homeostatic and inflammatory - depending on whether they are produced constitutively, and thereby control basal lymphocyte traf­ ficking, or whether they must be induced, for example by pathogens or injury, and thereby control deployment of effector leukocytes in emergencies.

Optimal dose individualization has become more important in improving clinical efficacy and safety. Therefore, the role of optimal dose finding in early clinical drug development so as to maximize successful clinical use is emphasized.

Advances in genetics, molecular biology and gene delivery technologies in recent years have led to new gene therapy strategies for treatment of a variety of diseases.

The evidence that these effects are mediated through the estrogen receptor(s) is based on similar but not always identical phenotypes as observed in experimental animal models of estrogen receptor mutations as well as the single clinical case of an estrogen receptor alpha mutant patient.

With the number of protein sequences without significant homology to well-known proteins increasing, the technique of structure-sequence compatibility (threading) is increasingly used to assign a function to a given protein fold.

The induction of immune responses against tumor cells by vaccination is rapidly evolving as a therapeutic modality with new potentials for the treatment of cancer.

The importance of the protein kinase family is underscored by numerous disease states that arise due to dysregulation of kinase activity. Recent progress in understanding the molecular regulation of kinases has led to the development of new therapeutics based on the inhibition of kinase activity.

The importance of the protein kinase family is underscored by numerous disease states that arise due to dysregulation of kinase activity. Recent progress in understanding the molecular regulation of kinases has led to the development of new therapeutics based on the inhibition of kinase activity.

This book provides an excellent overview on state-of-the-art of modern organocatalysis. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state-of-the-art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.

This volume features contributions from participants of the ESRF symposium on Immunotherapy in 2020-Visions and Trends for Targeting Inflammatory Diseases held in Potsdam near Berlin, Germany, in October 2006. The symposium presentations covered the main mechanisms of immunoregulation.

This book gives an updated review of the state of the art in regenerative cell therapy in the fields of cardiology, hematology, pediatrics, neurology, orthopedics and infectious diseases.

PET (positron emitting tomography), a nuclear medical imaging modality, is ideally suited to produce three-dimensional images of various targets or processes. The rapidly increasing demand for highly selective probes for MI strongly pushes the development of new PET tracers and PET chemistry.

This volume features contributions from participants of an ESRF Workshop on "Systems Biology" held in Berkeley, USA, in November 2005. Recent successes and challenges of applying systems level measurements to the different steps of drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical industry are summarized.

The therapeutic options for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative and traumatic diseases such as spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, etc. , have undergone enormous progress over recent years. Despite these encouraging developments, available therapies are only partially effective, and the ultimate goal is still far from being attained. Improved understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and demyelination has led to a variety of new therapeutic targets and approaches. In addition to modulation of the in?ammatory process (MS) and cl- sical neuroprotection (stroke, AD), therapeutic approaches focussing on active remyelinization and neuronal regeneration have become incre- ingly important. Based on current concepts, this book summarizes new therapeutic approaches. Although it was once thought that the central nervous system (CNS) of mammals was incapable of substantial recovery from injury, it is now clear that the adult CNS remains responsive to various substances that can promote cell survival and stimulate axonal growth. Among these substances are growth factors, including the neurotrophins and cytokines. Stem cell therapies for the induction of remyelinization and neuroregeneration are reviewed. The potential role of a protective - munity in the induction of remyelination and neuroregeneration is also discussed. Different gene therapy approaches for the treatment of MS VI Preface and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and spinal cord injury, etc. , are also summarized.

Presents the advances in stem cell research. This book discusses the analysis and use of stem cells in basic biology, and their application in clinical practice.

The Pharmaceutical industry is therefore focussing on ways to reduce attrition by addressing frequent reasons for clinical drug failures very early in the drug discovery process.

Over the last few years, we have witnessed tremendous progress in the field of eicosanoids and their therapeutic applications. New molecules and me diators have been identified, new enzymes and pathways elucidated and new therapeutic approaches have emerged.

Leading scientists from Europe and North America were invited to discuss computer-aided drug design in industrial research. These changes are gaining momentum, so it is the right time to think about the role of computer-aided drug design in this changing environment.