The present invention is directed to a method for screening and identifying molecules that transactivate a neurotrophin receptor and mediate neuronal cell survival in the absence of neurotrophins which uses one or a combination of three different assays. The assays involve detecting the phosphorylation of a neurotrophin receptor, detecting the phosphorylation of phosphotidylinositol 3'-kinase or Akt enzyme, and assessing neuronal cell survival in the absence of neurotrophins.