5th RSC / SCI symposium on Ion Channels as Therapeutic Targets

Introduction

Ion Channels are important targets for therapeutic intervention due to their extensive roles in human physiology and the pathophysiology of disease. Many successful drugs targeting ion channels have been discovered for diseases such as hypertension, epilepsy and chronic neuropathic pain, but few were rational designed until recently. Advances aiding design of new therapeutics include: refinement of high-throughput electrophysiology platforms; the genetic association of ion channel targets with human disease providing validated targets); the successful determination of the 3-dimensional structures of several ion channels; and the demonstration of antibodies capable of specifically modulating channel subtypes. The conference will be organised around series of plenary Lectures and seminars delivered by international leaders in ion channels science and drug discovery from academia and industry. In addition there will be a poster session, an exhibition and opportunities for informal networking.