Introducing neuroimmune pharmacology

Neuroscience, Immunology, and Pharmacology are broad disciplines that, without argument, impact upon a large component of what we come to know as biomedical science (Elenkov et al., 2000; Gendelman, 2002; McGeer and McGeer, 2004). Each, by themselves and even more so when put together, is multidisciplinary and require, for the student, both a broad knowledge and deep understanding of molecular and cellular biology. The linking of the disciplines is ever more challenging when they are placed together. The reasons are that each must first be understood as a single entity. The bridges between disciplines are what we now call multidisciplinary science and require another level of insight. When combined they form the basis of self, our engagement with the environment, as well as disease. Indeed, drugs that influence organ function, aging, and tissue homeostasis and repair can improve clinical outcomes.