Molecular Neuroscience: Current and Future Challenges

About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 29 July 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 16 November 2025

  2. This Research Topic is still accepting articles.

Background

In the early days, one of the biggest challenges in molecular neuroscience was identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal activity. The discovery of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, glycine, and serotonin in the mid-20th century was a breakthrough. However, the processes governing how neurons communicate with each other, and how neuronal networks influence behaviour, movement, learning, and memory were still poorly understood. Early electrophysiology research, such as the pioneering work of Hodgkin and Huxley on action potentials in the 1950s, helped to explain the electrical properties of neurons but left open questions about the molecules and molecular pathways controlling these signals. Furthermore, the technical limitations of the time, including the lack of precise imaging tools, macromolecular detection reagents such as antibodies or RNA probes and gene manipulation techniques, made it difficult to observe neural activity at the molecular level and beyond.

Today, molecular neuroscience has advanced significantly, thanks in large part to new technologies like CRISPR gene editing, molecular and pharmacological probes, spatiotemporal gene expression control, optogenetics, induced pluripotent stem cell technology, advanced microscopy and single-cell RNA sequencing. These tools have enabled scientists to investigate the molecular machinery of neurons in unprecedented detail. However, these advances have also exposed new challenges. One of the most pressing issues is managing the sheer complexity of data generated by modern neuroscience techniques. The human brain contains roughly 86 billion neurons, each with unique molecular signatures. Understanding how these molecular differences contribute to distinct neuronal functions and network behaviours remains a daunting task. In addition, glial cells, which can outnumber neurons 10:1 play a key role in regulating major metabolic and immunomodulatory functions in the brain. Another major challenge is translating molecular genetics findings into treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. While researchers have identified numerous genetic and molecular risk factors for diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Epilepsy, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Parkinson's disease, and depression, turning these insights into effective therapies has proven difficult. Many promising treatments that work in animal models fail in human trials, pointing to gaps in our understanding of how molecular pathways operate across species.

Looking to the future, one of the key challenges will be personalizing treatments for neurological and psychiatric diseases. While molecular neuroscience has revealed that many disorders have a genetic or molecular basis, each patient's brain is unique, with subtle differences in molecular profiles that may affect how they respond to pharmacotherapy. Precision medicine, which tailors treatments based on individual genetic and molecular data, holds great promise, but achieving this in the brain, with its vast complexity, remains a significant hurdle. An alternative to precision medicine is a broader approach based on the identification of commonalities between neurological disorders. For example, acquired epilepsy and acquired Alzheimer’s disease share common disease-causing mechanisms and comorbid symptoms. Another future challenge will be integrating molecular data across different levels of brain function. Neuroscience spans many levels, from genes and their epigenetic regulation to proteins to entire neural circuits and behaviour. Understanding how molecular changes at the synapse scale up to affect cognition, emotion, and behaviour will be crucial for developing more effective interventions. Advances in computational modelling and machine learning may offer solutions for bridging these different levels of analysis.

This research topic aims at bringing together excellent original research articles and reviews contributing to the advancement of Molecular Neuroscience. In particular, articles focusing on neurological disorders and mechanisms of disease at the molecular, cellular or whole-animal levels are welcome. We also encourage articles on gene regulation, proteostasis as well as intra- and inter-cellular signalling mechanisms in health and disease states.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review
  • Opinion
  • Original Research

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Keywords: Molecular Mechanisms, Neurogenetics, Brain Disorders, Precision Medicine

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

Manuscripts can be submitted to this Research Topic via the main journal or any other participating journal.