An important element of the Gallo Center’s mission is the discovery and development of improved therapies for the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse. The Gallo Center is structured as a translational research center, with academic laboratories acting as discovery engines that generate molecular targets, which are first sent to the Preclinical Development Group, and then on to the Human Clinical Research Group for further development. The goal is to develop and refine Gallo Center technologies to the point where they can be brought to market through intellectual property licensing and joint development relationships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies.