Comparison of Brain Maturation among Species: An Example in Translational Research Suggesting the Possible Use of Bumetanide in Newborn

The therapeutic need for neurological diseases requires the pursuit of research in this area by the development of new models of brain diseases as well as preclinical drug studies. Among them, the development of medicines for newborns has been identified as an urgent need for both preclinical and clinical research (Silverstein et al., 2008). This would lead to more translational studies on the developing brain. However, there are certain risks involved in this translation from animal models to humans such as the effect on brain maturation, safety, and co-morbidity. Interpretation of results of preclinical drug studies requires a knowledge of brain maturation among species in particular when the efficacy or the safety of a drug may be different. Moreover, the risk benefit ratio of a drug in development should also be considered in the interpretation of translational studies.