Meeting report; “Molecular neurobiological mechanisms in schizophrenia: seeking a synthesis,” April 11–14, 1999

A meeting on the molecular and neurobiological basis of schizophrenia was held April 11–14, 1999 at the Banbury Center of The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. This report is a summary of the predominant views of the participants, as perceived by the organizers. The purpose of this meeting was integrative—to bring together in a relaxed environment three dozen outstanding scientists in disparate underlying disciplines: psychiatry, psychology, genetics, neurobiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology. Brief talks emphasized concepts and questions rather than presentation of data. Exchanges of information and concepts provided an emerging synthesis of current and novel, even highly speculative, ideas. The reader is cautioned that the ideas, data supporting them, and data interpretations are not critiqued in this report. Nor is there much distinction made between speculations and findings that have more experimental support. The main questions and conclusions that emerged are presented in this report, which covers the following: 1) macrobiology (what schizophrenia is in terms of definition and improved diagnostics, genetics and environment, brain structure, development, and mind), 2) cell and molecular biology (defects of the expressed disease at both the membrane and nuclear levels, molecular defects of development, neuroreceptor genes and transcriptional control, and ligands), 3) therapies (current approaches, possible targets, and animal models), and 4) newer approaches (gene expression, early treatment and prevention strategies, and other problems). Two references per participant and abstracts (available from the organizers) served as a common basis.