British Pharmacological Society Cambridge Symposia. 5-7 January 2000, Cambridge, UK

This meeting covered a broad range of pharmacological topics, although the main themes were covered in four mini-symposia. This report concentrates on the cannabinoid, pain and cardiac ischemia symposia. The cannabinoid system was identified as a major area of potential therapeutic interest, offering a number of clinical targets that may be modified through the actions of selective ligands. Novel approaches to the treatment of neurogenic pain, where conventional analgesics have limited value, are being explored with significant success. The role of delayed preconditioning in cardiac ischemia was also addressed as a mechanism of cardioprotection.