5th International Conference on Neuroscience and Mental Health

Neuropharmacology and neuroendocrinology are foundational to our ability to understand, treat, and ultimately overcome the most challenging neurological and psychiatric disorders. This session examines the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which pharmacological agents and hormones modulate nervous system function, and how these insights are driving the development of more effective, targeted, and personalised treatments. As the global pharmaceutical pipeline for brain disorders continues to grow, this session provides an essential platform for researchers, pharmacologists, and clinicians to share discoveries across the full spectrum of neuropharmacological science.

A major focus of this session will be advances in understanding neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, and norepinephrine, and how dysregulation of these systems contributes to conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, Parkinson's disease, and addiction. Delegates will hear about emerging drug targets, novel receptor pharmacology, and the latest results from clinical trials of new psychotropic and neurological medications. The session will also address the challenge of drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier, a critical frontier in translating pharmacological discoveries into effective clinical treatments.

The neuroendocrinology component of this session will examine the profound influence of hormones, including cortisol, oestrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and neuropeptides, on brain structure, function, and mental health. Hormonal dysregulation is increasingly recognised as a contributor to neurological and psychiatric conditions, and this session will explore the latest research on hormone-brain interactions across the lifespan, from prenatal brain development to cognitive ageing. Pharmacogenomics, the study of how individual genetic variation affects drug response, will also be highlighted as a key tool in the move toward precision neuropharmacology.

Key topics:

• Neurotransmitter Systems: How dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, and other neurotransmitters regulate brain function and contribute to neurological disease.
• Novel Drug Targets: Emerging pharmacological targets for the treatment of depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and other brain disorders.
• Blood-Brain Barrier and Drug Delivery: Strategies for overcoming the blood-brain barrier to improve the efficacy of neurological and psychiatric medications.
• Hormones and Brain Function: The role of sex hormones, stress hormones, and neuropeptides in shaping cognition, mood, and neurological health.
• Pharmacogenomics: How genetic variation influences individual drug responses, and the move toward personalised neuropharmacological treatment.
• Psychotropic Drug Development: Latest advances in clinical trials for antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and mood stabilisers.
• Stress Hormones and Neurological Disease: How cortisol and HPA axis dysregulation contribute to neurodegeneration, psychiatric disorders, and brain ageing.
• Neuroendocrine Disorders: Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of conditions arising from hormonal dysregulation in the nervous system.