Questions that enable the interpretation of experimental findings on neuroprotection
| 1. | Is the protection a consequence of modifying the insult? |
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| 2. | Is the protection the result of ameliorating the processes of neurodegeneration that have been induced? |
| 3. | In what way is the insult in the model similar to those seen in clinical practice? |
| 4. | Is the experimental paradigm weighted toward a particular type of ischaemia induced pathology? |
| 5. | Do we know that the agent is getting to the site where we think its mechanism of action takes place? |
| 6. | Do we understand the mechanism by which a drug or agent is acting in a given experimental model? |
| 7. | Does the ability to protect neurons in one animal model extrapolate to similar activity in other animal models? |
| 8. | Has there been sufficient preclinical data, using appropriate species? |
| 9. | Does the experimental end point translate to a clinically relevant end point? |
| 10. | What are the effects of the drug in the human being? Can it cross the blood-brain barrier? How is it metabolised? What are the interactions? Is it protein bound? etc. |