Pioneering the discovery, development, and delivery of transformative treatments for brain disorders.

Over 50% of the world’s population will suffer from a serious central nervous system disorder at some point in their lives. Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders strike at the very core of our identity, and inflict higher treatment and productivity costs than cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes combined. Years of life are lost for these patients, and many face the future with a severe disability that impedes everyday living. While widely prescribed therapy options exist, many patients remain untreated or poorly treated, with persistent, disabling symptoms.

Despite this need, many in the pharmaceutical industry have abandoned the search for new answers. Most widely used antidepressants, anxiolytics, and antipsychotic drugs remain nearly the same as their 1950s prototypes – and with good reason. Changing brain function in specific, targeted ways is far from simple, due to the astounding complexity of cell types and their interconnections in the nervous system.

MapLight was founded in 2019 by award-winning neuroscientists who have devoted their lives to developing a better understanding of brain circuitry, and targeting the specific circuits that misfire in brain disorders. By combining our set of proprietary technologies to identify and treat the defining symptoms of some of the most challenging central nervous system disorders, MapLight is introducing novel therapeutics that will bring hope and relief to countless patients.