Neuropharmacology Ph.D. fellowship candidates

Offer Description

Psychosis is a mental condition commonly associated with, but not limited to, schizophrenia. Despite the availability of antipsychotic medications, managing treatment-resistant psychosis remains a significant clinical challenge. This project aims to engineer pharmacologically active nanobodies targeting glutamate receptors to function as biological antipsychotic agents . Our preliminary data demonstrates the potential antipsychotic efficacy of a nanobody against the metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGlu5R) within the central nervous system.

Objectives

1. Design and production of nanobodies capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier.
2. Detection of nanobodies within the brain using molecular imaging techniques (e.g., PET, SPECT, OI) to demonstrate target engagement via different administration routes.
3. In vivo assessment of the antipsychotic efficacy of nanobody candidates.