The present invention is directed to the identification of modulators for SLC22A7 transporter and therapeutic uses thereof. Hence, in one embodiment the present invention relates to a method for identifying and/or obtaining a compound capable of modulating glutamate transport, comprising contacting a test compound with a system for measuring those transport activity, which system comprises an SLC22A7 polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof, and a substrate for measuring glutamate transport by the system; and detecting an altered level of the those transport activity of the SLC22A7 polypeptide or functional fragment in the presence of the test compound compared to the described transport activity in the absence of the test compound and/or presence of a control.
