Project Summary

William T. Carpenter, Jr., M.D. (Distinguished Investigator 2008) of the University of Maryland, aims to develop new means to facilitate drug discovery for the unmet needs in the treatment of schizophrenia. Current drugs for schizophrenia treat the so-called positive symptoms, its delusions and hallucinations. Dr. Carpenter’s project will address the cognitive impairment and negative social symptoms of the disorder. Models for early evaluation of therapeutic compounds that predict clinical efficacy have not been established. Dr. Carpenter plans to evaluate three previously untested compounds on three models: rats bred to show deficits associated with schizophrenia, human subjects who are related to schizophrenia patients and schizophrenia patients. The first compound to be tested, and effects compared among the three groups, is the hormone oxytocin. Known mainly for its role in childbirth, oxytocin was selected based on experimental evidence of its socializing effect in adult autism and in animal models. In addition to learning about the compound’s efficacy and predictive validity, it is hoped that the research will answer the critical question of whether or not the cognitive impairment and negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent one single or two separate pathways for drug intervention.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

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