General

Brain research faces funding crisis

New treatments will be delayed, scientists warn

Scientists are warning that research into mental illness like depression has hit a funding crisis, which could result in the delay of new treatments, and a generation of potential neuroscience researchers who won’t be trained, the BBC reports. Private companies are pulling out over the challenge of marketing new drugs, notes a report by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology calling for more investment and changes to the way trials take place. The report was produced by a summit of more than 60 representatives from governments, universities, patient groups, and the pharmaceutical industry. It takes 13 years on average to develop drugs for mental illness, the report notes, adding that these drugs have a higher failure rate and are tougher to get licensed for use.

BBC News

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