Lieber Institute Inc

Basic sciences: the creation of model systems at the institute to study psychiatric illness is the major goal of the basic sciences research program. Using our unique collection of human brain material and induced pluripotent stem cell lines, we are defining the molecular signature of disease risk. To provide the basis for therapeutic intervention we are developing new technologies using human stem cells to identify the functional consequences of genetic risk factors. The goal of these studies is the identification of therapeutic targets based on the mechanisms of disease.

Drug discovery: improved genetic understanding of diseases of brain development is revealing new drug discovery opportunities. Guided by genetics, the institute's drug discovery division is investigating new targets for psychiatric diseases, with the goal of validating innovative approaches that will lead to novel medicines for patients suffering from these conditions. The drug discovery division maintains a state of the art medicinal chemistry laboratory and unique capabilities in target validation.