“Biomedical Translational Research” has been compiled in three volumes, i.e.,

volume I summarizes emerging technologies for healthcare. Volume II, From

Disease Diagnosis to Treatment, discusses various aspects of biomedical research

towards understanding the diseases’ pathophysiology and improvement in diagnos-

tic procedures and therapeutic tools. Volume III, Drug Design and Discovery,

focuses on biomedical research’s fundamental role in developing new medicinal

products.

This book, which is the third volume of biomedical translational research, focuses

on the fundamental role of biomedical research in the development of new medicinal

products. It emphasizes on the importance of understanding biological and patho-

physiological mechanisms underlying the disease for the discovery and early devel-

opment of new biological agents. The book comprehensively reviews different

genomic and microfluidic and computational approaches that employ to guide

drug repositioning. It also summarizes the major challenges in drug development

and the rational design of the next generation of more effective but less toxic

therapeutic agents.

The editors are thankful to all the authors who have contributed chapters to this

volume. R.C. Sobti acknowledges the support given by his wife Dr. Vipin Sobti,

daughters Er. Aditi and Dr. Aastha (their spouses Er. Vinit and Er. Ankit), and grand

daughter Irene in preparation of the manuscript of this volume. The platform to

prepare the volume was given by the Indian National Science Academy under their

Senior Scientist Program.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India

R. C. Sobti

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Naranjan S. Dhalla

vi

Preface