The present invention relates to the design, synthesis, and the peptidylprolyl isomerase (PPIase or rotamase) inhibitory activity of novel bicyclic diamide compounds that are neuroprotective and/or neurotrophic agents (i.e. compounds capable of stimulating growth or proliferation of nervous tissue) and that bind to immunophilins such as FKBP12 and inhibit their rotamase activity. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds.