Neuroscience by Peter Gwynne Industry Searches for Neuroscientists Neuroscience represents a key frontier for fundamental research. Largely as a result of research on the human genome, the prospect for discovering new proteins and enzymes in neuroscience work is dramatic.
Much basic work remains to be done to discover pathways in the brain.
One hot research field focuses on the regulation of neural function. Other key areas for basic investigation include studies of the factors that control neural death and cell survival, and the promotion of neural survival. For the biotechnology and pharmacology industries, neuroscience represents the hope of alleviating several devastating diseases, from Alzheimer's disease to depression. While some chemical treatments exist for such diseases, corporate laboratories want to develop more narrowly targeted drugs with fewer side effects. Neuroscience already plays a role in improving the bottom lines of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.