Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting | Bucharest 2026

Biophysics of Membrane Reactions in Brian

Thursday Speaker Abstracts

LITHIUM, THE MYSTERIOUS DRUG Ran Friedman Linnaeus University, Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Kalmar, Sweden

Lithium has been used as a medication for psychiatric disorders since the 19th century. It is still the mainstay drug for treating bipolar disorders, but its mechanism of action is not known. In this talk I will discuss the interactions of lithium with biological molecules and other components, from a theoretical, physico-chemical approach. While not sufficient for solving the long mystery of how lithium works as a drug, such an approach can help understanding potential side effects and the effect of different formulations.

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