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NIAAA Director's Report on Institute Activities to the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - September 14, 2000


 CONTENTS

 

BUDGET UPDATE

- Office of Collaborative Research Activities

 

- Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research

 

WEB SITE HIGHLIGHTS

- Office of Policy, Legislation, and Public Liaison

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS

 

NIH ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS

- Office of Scientific Affairs

 

STAFF NOTES

 

INSTITUTE ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

- Division of Basic Research

 

- Staffing Update

- Honors and Awards

 

OFFICE AND DIVISION ACTIVITIES

- Division of Biometry and Epidemiology

- Office of The Director - Division of Clinical and Prevention Research

 I. BUDGET UPDATE

Budget Summary

(Dollars in thousands)

FY 2000

Appropriation

FY 2001

House

FY 2001

Senate

Extramural Research:

 

 

 

Grants and Contracts

$244,531

$291,174

$280,415

Research Training

7,776

8,644

8,644

Intramural Research

25,973

31,865

30,689

Research Management and Support

14,089

17,100

17,100

Total, NIAAA (including AIDS)

292,369

348,783

336,848

Percent increase over prior year

 

19.3%

15.2%

AIDS (not added)

(19,243)

(20,083)

(20,083)

The House and Senate are re-convening on September 5th and 6th, 2000. As of September 5th the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and other Related Agencies FY 2001 conference levels had not been resolved therefore a conference report has not been filed. The discretionary spending caps are again one of the primary hurdles facing the appropriations committee -- they must be lifted to support the President's requests and any funding above that request. The NIH more than likely will be working under a continuing resolution (CR) through the first few weeks of the fiscal year. A CR usually funds the Institutes at the prior year's budget level until Congress establishes the current year budget levels.

II. WEB HIGHLIGHTS(
/niaaa.nih.gov/.
 

New items added to the Website include:

Frequently Asked Questions for Extramural Researchers.
Full text of the Report of the NIAAA Council Subcommittee for the Review of the Extramural Research Portfolio for treatment.
Full text of the 10th Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health.
Full text of Alcohol Research & Health, NIAAA's peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Six files of data in text format from three of NIAAA's Data Reference Manuals. The data are presented for researchers who desire downloadable data from the data reference manuals for use in their own analyses. The data files included beverage-specific annual per capita alcohol consumption for the years 1970 through 1997, annual State-level alcohol-related mortality
A statistical booklet entitled How Does Alcohol Affect the World of A Child?  This booklet was prepared in conjunction with the "Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free," initiative which engages the Governors' spouses of the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia as spokespersons in a national campaign to prevent alcohol consumption by children aged 9-15.

 

III. NIH ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS

Trans-NIH/Department of Health and Human Services Workshop on the Science of the Placebo.

Dr. Joanne Fertig, NIAAA Division of Clinical and Prevention Research, has been working on the planning committee for a Trans-NIH/HHS workshop entitled, "The Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda." The meeting, which will be held in the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Campus November 19-21, 2000, will bring together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to examine the biological, behavioral, social, cultural, and ethical aspects related to the placebo effect. Perspectives on the necessity for including a placebo in randomized clinical trials also will be examined. To provide a scholarly assessment of the state-of-the-art, biologists, behavioral and social scientists, epidemiologists, and biostatisticians have been commissioned to write background papers. Manuscripts will be provided to workshop participants in advance of the meeting and will be summarized in plenary sessions to be held on the first one and one-half days of the meeting. Topics covered at the meeting will include: Definition and History of the Field, Biological Aspects, Behavioral Aspects, Social/Cultural Aspects, Ethical Aspects, Statistical and Regulatory Issues Related to Use of the Placebo in Clinical Trials. These presentations will serve as the basis for discussions in breakout sessions scheduled for the final day of the meeting. In these smaller meetings, participants will develop recommendations for a future interdisciplinary research agenda. Information regarding the meeting, the agenda, and registration forms is posted at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916081242/http://placebo.nih.gov or may be obtained by contacting Maria Smith at TASCON, Inc. at placebo@tascon.com or 301/315-9000.

IV. NIAAA ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS

Institute Reorganization

Background

Dr. Gordis decided it was time to review the current Institute structure and current assigned functions and responsibilities in view of the following major events since the last Institute reorganization in 1986 (in ADAMHA) which established the Division of Clinical and Prevention Research (DCPR):

  The incorporation of NIAAA into NIH in 1992-1993.
  The massive increase in NIAAA's research funds from the 1986 level of $66.0 million to $294.0 million in FY2000 (345 percent) with a potential estimated $80.0 to $90.0 million increase next fiscal year.
  The research priority setting and allocations of resources to Institutes and Centers (ICs) by the NIH Office of the Director (NIH-OD) and the Congress requires NIAAA to continue to position itself in the front ranks of the 24 NIH ICs in terms of research quality, management of resources, and efficient deployment of staff.
  Because 85 - 90 percent of the Institute's budget is for the direct support of research grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, the large budget increases since NIAAA's integration into NIH have had a significant impact on the extramural divisions while staff levels have remained fairly stable.

Organizational Study Approach

The Organizational Study was defined into two areas-Organizational Issues and Program Issues -as outlined below:

Organizational Issues

  Is NIAAA's current organizational structure optimal since the last significant change in 1987 establishing the DCPR?
  Are the existing reporting relationships working well and fostering sound management and communications?
  Has the immediate Office of the Director (OD) become too immersed in operational programs including funded programs managed by OD staff?
  Do the Institute's large program expansions and new priorities established over the past 10-12 years require new approaches to internal oversight and monitoring by the OD?
  Is middle management functioning well, receiving adequate support, and being kept adequately informed about Institute policies, priorities, and management issues?
  Are NIAAA's administrative support activities functioning well and are they responsive to program needs?

Program Issues

  Are crosscutting NIAAA programs being well managed and coordinated and is the NIAAA well represented to NIH-OD offices and other IC/s when needed?

Specific crosscutting areas for study include the following:

   AIDS Interaction with Foundations
Women's Health Medications Development
Minority Programs Health Services Research
Alcohol Research Centers One-Percent Funds
Training Shannon Grants
Youth Programs Special Projects (Research-to-Practice, "Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol-Free" initiative, etc.)
   Are there appropriate checks and balances in the Institute's funding decision-making process in terms of both operations as well as appearance?
  Are the Institute's public affairs, constituency relations, public liaison, and public information activities effective, responsive, and proactive?

Summary of Major Organizational Changes

Significant Organizational Changes

  The Office of Collaborative Research (OCR) currently within the Office of the Director, under Dr. Faye Calhoun, will be given the same organizational status as other Institute Divisions and Offices. In addition, cross-cutting programs currently dispersed in several Institute components will be consolidated within the new OCR. These programs include AIDS, Alcohol Research Centers, Women's Health, Minority Programs, and Institutional Research Training Grants (T-32's). The OCR will continue to manage its current activities including International Programs, Health Disparities, Science Education, and interaction with those NIH-OD offices which provide funding for the various research initiatives mentioned above. Dr. Tina Vanderveen will continue her current responsibilities for the Research Centers in the new OCR and will also serve as Dr. Calhoun's deputy. The establishment of OCR as a Division/Office level organization also meets a goal of streamlining the Institute's Office of the Director (OD). OD staffing will be reduced from 17 staff to 8 staff. 
  The press function currently in the Scientific Communications Branch (SCB) of the Office of Scientific Affairs will be reassigned to the Office of Policy, Legislation, and Public Liaison (OPLPL) under Mr. Geoff Laredo. This change integrates all press functions with OPLPL's ongoing public outreach, legislation, public liaison activities, elevates press activities organizationally, and increases their visibility and accessibility. Ms. Ann Bradley will continue her current responsibilities and will be reassigned to OPLPL. This action will be reviewed after six months.
  The planning function is being moved from the Planning and Financial Management Branch (PFMB) of the Office of Planning and Resource Management (OPRM) to the Office of Scientific Affairs (OSA). OSA is currently responsible for a number of "building blocks" in the planning process such as strategic plans; Extramural Science Advisory Board (ESAB) reviews; the Advisory Council's Subcommittee on Research Priorities; interaction with outside organizations on science issues; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)-like projects; research dissemination under ARCAD (Alcohol Research Collection and Dissemination); Alcohol Research Utilization System (ARUS) research conferences and workshops; and development of scientific documents, monographs, and reports (Alcohol and Health). PFMB's current role in the planning process is distinctly reactive to and reliant upon OSA's activities as well as the gathering of material from Division and Office Directors and Project Officers. This organizational change will provide for a science-based approach to developing NIAAA's "Areas of Emphasis" proposals and various research issues incorporated into the Institute's Congressional Justification such as "Stories of Discovery," "Research Accomplishments," and compiling research information to meet various requests from the NIH-OD. Location in an organization with scientific expertise and knowledge of NIAAA's research will streamline and integrate NIAAA's research planning and strengthen the scientific credibility of the planning process in NIAAA. NIAAA's planning will also be consistent with most other IC's and will parallel planning in NIH-OD's Office of Science Policy.

Other Organizational Changes

In addition to the above significant organizational changes, a number of changes in functions and/or responsibilities will be occurring which are summarized below:

Certificates of Confidentiality

This function is being reassigned from the Division of Biometry and Epidemiology (DBE) to the OSA in order to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest by retaining the function in an extramural grant awarding Division. Over the last two years, the volume of requests for Certificates has nearly doubled. Further, consistent with growing public and scientific attention to human subjects concerns the complexity of the review process has sharply increased. Only about half of NIAAA grantees whose research involves human subjects currently seek a Certificate. As alcohol research increasingly involves longitudinal designs, collection of biological samples which permit genotyping, and linkage of publicly available data bases with information gathered directly from research subjects (e.g., on alcohol consumption and psychiatric symptoms), NIAAA's interest in proactively encouraging investigators to seek a Certificate will increase as well creating a further increase in work volume in this area.

Development of Grant Pay Plans

This function is being assigned from the Office of Scientific Affairs to the Planning and Financial Management Branch (PFMB) of the Office of Planning and Resource Management (OPRM) because of potential "check and balance" concerns by having both the grant review process and the grant award selection process in the same office.

Pending Issues

Several other organizational issues are still pending. Council will be informed as decisions on these issues are made.

Monograph on Research Perspectives on Alcohol Craving

Emanating from the NIAAA-funded workshop on "Treatment and Alcohol Craving: Expanding the Paradigm," held in October 1997, is a monograph that comprises 18 review articles on alcohol craving, most of which represent updates of papers presented at the workshop and a few of which are invited articles. The monograph has been published as Supplement 2 to the Volume 95, August 2000 issue of Addiction. The Supplement's Guest Editors are D. Colin Drummond, M.D. (St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London), and NIAAA's Cherry Lowman, Ph.D. Raye Z. Litten, Ph.D. (Division of Clinical and Prevention Research) and Walter A. Hunt, Ph.D. (Division of Basic Research).

The supplement has three major objectives. The first objective is to familiarize readers with the variety of theoretical models, drawn from both animal and human research, that are relevant to craving and the definitions of craving generated by them. These include phenomenological models, classical and operant conditioning models, the incentive-sensitization theory, a tonic-phasic model of dopamine system regulation, cognitive social learning theory and the cognitive processing theory of craving. The second objective of the supplement is to provide methodological critiques to guide development of more reliable and valid measurement of craving, both verbal and non-verbal. The final objective is to provide a broad overview of models that may be useful in the construction of transdisciplinary models of alcohol craving that may better elucidate its role in the complex biobehavioral process known as addiction.

Initiative on Women and Alcohol

During the development of the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's national plan for health services research, crucial gaps were identified in our knowledge about the needs of women with alcohol problems. In order to begin to address these gaps, NIAAA appointed a panel of experts in 1998 to evaluate the existing literature on alcohol problems in women as well as the available information on "gender specific" or "gender sensitive" treatments for these women. Panelists included experts on issues related to women's access to care, the impact of changes in public funding on treatment for women, sub-populations of women that are particularly vulnerable to alcohol abuse, and problems experienced by alcohol abusing women. The work of the panel included a set of commissioned papers and formal critiques by discussants. These papers comprise a special section in the August issue of the journal: Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. The introductory paper for this special section was written by Wendy B. Smith, Ph.D. of NIAAA and Constance Weisner, DPH (Smith, W. and Weisner, C. "Women and Alcohol Problems: A Critical Analysis of the Literature and Unanswered Questions," Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, in press).

The June 2000 issue of Frontlines, the Health Services Research newsletter published by NIAAA in conjunction with the Association for Health Services Research, also focused on alcohol problems in women and the importance of gender-specific research. This issue included articles by some of the same authors who participated in the expert panel on women noted above and who authored articles for the special section in the Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. The commentary and overview on alcohol problems in women, "Alcohol Problems in Women: Making the Case for Gender-Specific Research" was written by Wendy B. Smith, Ph.D. of NIAAA and Constance Weisner, DPH.

Subcommittee on College Drinking

To address the complex issue of alcohol abuse among college students in a comprehensive, scientific manner, NIAAA's National Advisory Council created a Subcommittee on College Drinking in February 1998. Comprised of college presidents and alcohol researchers, the Subcommittee provides expertise and guidance to NIAAA based upon this unique dialogue among the administrators and scientists. The Subcommittee is co-chaired by Rev. Edward A. Malloy, President of the University of Notre Dame and Dr. Mark Goldman, Distinguished Research Professor, University of South Florida. Subcommittee activities are coordinated by Stephen Long, Fred Donodeo, Vivian Faden, and Gayle Boyd. The long-term goal of the Subcommittee is to advise NIAAA on research gaps that need to be explored in order to improve campus prevention and treatment programs. A short-term goal is to provide college presidents and researchers with reliable information on the overall quality and effectiveness of current interventions. The final Subcommittee report will be presented to the National Advisory Council at the February 2001 meeting and, ultimately, to Dr. Gordis.

Recent activities in support of the Subcommittee have focused on setting up an infrastructure to share information about the Subcommittee with our colleagues and the public. This infrastructure includes developing a dedicated section of the NIAAA Website for the college issue and organizing periodic meetings of key personnel in various federal agencies concerned with the college drinking issue to provide updates to ensure that we all remain well-informed and avoid duplicative efforts.

For more details concerning the Subcommittee on College Drinking, please see the February Director's Report at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916081242/http://silk.nih.gov/silk/niaaa1/about/dirept2-00.htm.

Leadership Initiative to Keep Children Alcohol Free

Since the June Council meeting, Ms. Judy O'Bannon, the First Lady of Indiana, has joined the initiative, bringing the total number of participating Governors' spouses to 28. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (the initiative's primary co-funder with NIAAA) has officially agreed to continue its support with funding of $3 million for Phase II. The Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has become a partner, with funding of $1.1 million over the next three years. It has already provided a link on its Website to the initiative's statistics booklet, "How Does Alcohol Affect the World of a Child?" on the NIAAA Website. Discussions are underway with Mr. Roger Hartman, Ex Officio Coucil member for the Department of Defense, to determine what involvement in the initiative might be appropriate for the Department of Defense. The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also considering some type of participation.

During the transition period between Phase I, which ended in June, and Phase II, which will begin in October, activities to strengthen the alliance among the Governors' spouses and advance the goals of the "Leadership" initiative are continuing. Two regional meetings of Governors' spouses will be held in September to broaden their understanding of the scientific and environmental issues surrounding the impact of alcohol on children. The first meeting will be hosted by Vicky Cayetano, First Lady of Hawaii, on September 19-20 in San Francisco. The second meeting, to be hosted by Hope Taft, First Lady of Ohio and one of four Co-Chairs of the Leadership Committee of Governors' Spouses, will be held on September 27-28 in Columbus, Ohio.

In the meantime, several Governors' spouses have been elevating the issue of youth alcohol use both nationally and within their states. Michele Ridge, First Lady of Pennsylvania and one of the initiative's co-chairs, will make a brief videotaped introduction for OJJDP's quarterly satellite teleconference which will focus on underage drinking. The teleconference will to be held on September 22.

On October 11, Mrs. Ridge will discuss NIAAA's leadership in developing the initiative at this year's meeting of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. This group is convened annually by the Attorney General and includes the secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Defense, Transportation, and Agriculture, as well as the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service. We are very pleased to have this opportunity to showcase the project at the highest levels of the Federal government.

Participating spouses are also writing op-ed pieces for their state newspapers, creating public service announcements, and convening directors of state agencies to enhance state-wide coordination of alcohol prevention and treatment services.

V. OFFICE AND DIVISION ACTIVITIES

Office of The Director

Director

NIH Budget Retreat

NIAAA Director Enoch Gordis, M.D. participated, in an NIH "2000 Budget Retreat, June15-16. The retreat, which involved NIH Senior Staff and Institute and Center Directors, is held annually to focus on science and other issues in preparation for presenting the FY 2000 NIH budget. During this year's retreat, participants focused on topics including the NIH Health Disparities Strategic Plan; stem cell application to human disease; the President's initiative on vaccines; genetic modifiers of single gene disorders; global diseases research program; youth violence, presented jointly by Drs. Hyman (NIMH), Gordis, and Leshner (NIDA); and neurodegeneration.

Deputy Director

43rd ICAA International Institute on the Prevention and Treatment of Dependencies

Institute Deputy Director, Mary C. Dufour, M.D., M.P.H. represented NIAAA at the 43rd ICAA International Institute on the Prevention and Treatment of Dependencies held September 3-7 in Bahrain. This year's meeting focused on both the objective review of existing demand reduction programs and on future planning of world-wide demand reduction activities. Demand reduction includes prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation as an integral part of a balanced strategy to contain, combat, and curtail the harmful effects of addictions.

Scientific Advisor

NIH Workshop on Essential Fats in Foods

W.E.M. Lands co-chaired the NIH workshop on "Essential Fats in Foods" to discuss essential fatty acids and eicosanoids in human health and the impact of voluntary food choices. Also featured was an interactive computer-aided personal food choice software program that combines complex biomedical information on essential fats and eicosanoids and interprets and displays it in terms of personal food choice decisions understandable by the general public.

Publications

W.E.M. Lands, Peptide signaling paths related to intoxication, memory, and addiction. Addiction Biology 2000; 5: 245-260.

W.E.M. Lands, Stories about acyl chains. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2000; 1483: 1-15.

W.E.M.Lands, Alcohol: The balancing act. In "Primary and Secondary Preventive Nutrition" (eds. A. Bendich and R. Deckelbaum), 2000, Humana Press, New York.

Office of Collaborative Research Activities

The mission of the Office of Collaborative Research Activities (OCRA) is to: foster collaboration activities with other NIH Institutes, governmental agencies, and other organizations interested in alcohol research; provide momentum and guidance to projects in collaboration with appropriate program administrators or subject matter experts in other NIAAA offices or divisions; coordinate and administer collaborative international research programs and scientific exchanges; and develop and coordinate science education projects and initiatives.

Domestic Collaborative Research Activities

Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - An Update

Currently, the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC FAS) on FAS convened by the NIAAA consists of representatives from ten government organizations, agencies, and Institutes. Three cabinet departments are represented: Health and Human Services, Education and Justice. Dr. Diedra Roach, a new Medical Officer with OCRA, is working with member organizations to develop a five year strategic plan. The group will meet in Executive Session in late September to review progress and the develop realistic action items.

NIH Birth Defects and Teratology Interest Group

The Birth Defects and Teratology Special Interest Group was honored by the selection of its nominee, Christine E. Seidman, M.D., a 1999 American Heart Association Basic Research Prize Recipient, as one of the chosen speakers for the prestigious NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture. Dr. Seidman is Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Physician and Director, Cardiovascular Genetics Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. She is recognized for her ingenious applications of molecular genetics to elucidate the genetic basis for cardiomyopathies and congenital cardiac malformations. Dr. Seidman's presentation, "Gene Mutations that Model the Heart, is scheduled for December 20, 2000, 3 PM.

On January 18, Dr. Michael Charness, and NIAAA grantee, will discuss his research on alcohol's teratogenic effects on cellular adhesion molecules, which are important in the fetal central nervous system development.

Presentation on FAS to Medical Students

For a second year the OCRA staff presented a session for Georgetown University medical students at the invitation of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS). The session included presentations by Dr. Megan Adamson on NIAAA-supported research, Ms. Dorothea DeZafra on the instructional booklets for prenatal and pediatric health care professionals on FAS, and Ms. Peggy Murray on the medical student curriculum that she and Dr. Michael Fleming have developed for instructional use in international and national medical school education. NOFAS invited these speakers to present again next year.

Collaborative Curriculum Development Project with the NIH Office of Science Education for Middle Schools--An Update

The NIAAA proposal to develop a science education project is one of nine funded to date in the NIH Curriculum Supplement Series. The first three supplements are all designed for the high school level, are published and available. Information about the series is online at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916081242/http://science-education.nih.gov/ supplements. Products resulting from the third development cycle, which includes the NIAAA supplement, will be available in 2001. Overall objectives for the series include promoting the visibility and missions of the NIH and respective Institutes, improving the quality of science teaching nationwide, deepening students' understanding of the importance of research to advances in medicine and health, and providing students with grade-appropriate opportunities to learn and apply inquiry and critical-thinking skills to discover solutions to a wide range of problems. The NIAAA supplement, titled "Understanding Alcohol: Separating Fact from Fiction", will be designed for grades seven and eight, with adaptation potential for grades six and nine. Instruction will be centered around a print component, with an Internet component serving as a rich interactive element of the instructional experience. The supplements are distributed free of charge, but, because teachers have a crowded syllabus, the supplements must integrate well into required science education coursework while focusing on unique features: i.e., medical topics relevant to students' lives, and inquiry-based instruction.

A recent planning workshop brought together three scientific advisors, a consulting curriculum specialist, a seventh-grade master teacher, and staff from OSE, NIAAA, and an experienced education contractor to develop a logical sequence of five class periods and to outline the scientific and pedagogic content of each.. Dorothea De Zafra, NIAAA Science Education Program Coordinator, provides leadership to this project. The three alcohol research science advisors who are participating in the development of the curriculum materials were all very enthusiastic and proposed leadership roles for themselves, the Alcohol Research Centers, and the Research Society on Alcoholism in teacher-training and implementation promotion when the curriculum supplement is ready for release. The three advisors are: Dr. Gene Erwin, the University of Colorado Alcohol Research Center; Dr. Robert Zucker, Director, University of Michigan Alcohol Research Center, and Dr. Robert Voas , The Pacific Research Institute.

International Research and Training Program

Research Society on Alcoholism Presentations

  Results from international collaborative research sponsored by NIAAA were reported at the annual RSA meeting in Denver, Colorado at a symposium featuring presentations by co-investigators from Italy, Poland, Mexico, and Russia. Three of the projects were funded under the Collaborative International Projects announcement, and the fourth was funded under a special partnership between the National Institutes of Health and the Civilian Research and Development Foundation which supports cooperation between NIH grantees and scientists from Russia and the Newly Independent States. Findings from these four studies demonstrate the usefulness of mechanisms to support international collaborations, as well as contributions to the field that can be gained from joining the forces of U.S. and international laboratories and research centers.
  Findings from the highly productive collaborative research program on Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) conducted in the Western Cape Province of South Africa were presented at an RSA symposium. The findings were jointly presented by alcohol research scientists from the United States and South Africa. A highlight of the symposium was the presence of the Mayor of Wellington, the city in South Africa in which the studies were conducted. Studies included the development of methods to screen large numbers of school children for FAS, neurobehavioral assessments of large numbers of same-age FAS students, and studies of maternal environmental, genetic and metabolic risk factors. The session was co-chaired by Drs. Faye Calhoun and Ken Warren of NIAAA who have co-managed the projects over a three-year period. The results of this collaborative research program will be published

ISBRA

NIAAA supported an international symposium on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome at the biannual meeting of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) held in Yokohama, Japan. The symposium featured presenters from FAS studies in South Africa, Russia, Japan, and Germany. The panel was co-chaired by Drs. Faye Calhoun and Kenneth Warren.

Japan

NIAAA, together with the Japanese National Institute of Alcoholism, ISBRA, the University of Connecticut School of Medicine , and Kaio University School of Medicine, hosted a one-day workshop in Yokohama, Japan in July. The meeting, "Towards a Comprehensive Approach to International Alcohol Research: Design and Dissemination Issues," was attended by 80 junior to mid-level Japanese investigators who wanted to improve skills in alcohol epidemiology research. In addition, an afternoon interactive session focused on strategies for improving acceptance rates for research articles submitted to English journals.

Taiwan

Drs. Faye Calhoun and Kenneth Warren chaired scientific sessions at the international symposium, "Recent Advances in Biomedical Research on Alcoholism: Genetics, Neurobiology, Behavior and Disease" which was held in Taipei in July. This symposium was by the Taiwanese National Health Research Institutes and the National Science Council.

Office of Policy, Legislation, and Public Liaison

Collaborations with Outside Organizations

NIAAA maintains a broad range of formal and informal collaborative activities and contacts between the Institute and its constituent organizations. Informal collaborations includes regular information sharing with the over 400 outside groups which comprise the liaison representatives to the National Advisory Council and informal meetings between liaison representatives and NIAAA Director Enoch Gordis following the adjournment of Council meetings. In addition to liaison activities NIAAA maintains a program of specific, formal collaborations with outside groups. Collaborative activities are described below.

Symposium: Alcohol Use And Mental Disorders: A Behavioral Science Perspective

Continuing a long-standing tradition, OPLPL once again arranged a one-day symposium in conjunction with the national conference of the American Psychological Society (APS). This year's symposium, entitled, "Alcohol Use and Mental Disorders: A Behavioral Science Perspective," was developed and moderated by Dr. Ken Sher. Participants found the information to be very informative and Dr. Sher is currently preparing a summary article for the APS newsletter, The Observer.

Selected Upcoming Activities In FY 2001

Dates Activity
September - October 2000 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). NIAAA and MADD continue to build a strong relationship to further inject the science of alcohol research into the work of the organization. NIAAA again sponsored a research symposium at MADD's annual convention (Washington, D.C.), to help members understand the science behind their concerns. NIAAA is also a cosponsor of the upcoming MADD Youth Summit 2000 (October 2000; Washington, D.C.)
November 2000 Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York. NIAAA and CSAT continue their involvement with ASAP-NY. At this year's annual meeting, Dr. Mike Hilton will chair a session designed to describe and discuss the overall research-to-practice effort in the state. Dr. Hilton will share with the audience some impressions of the experience in the state with implementing the research-to-practice initiative Clinicians from each site, plus one researcher, also will participate in a panel discussion.
New Hampshire Research Symposium. NIAAA, NIDA, and the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers are sponsoring a two-day regional conference in Nashua, New Hampshire. This research-to- practice" forum will include reviews of medications and behavioral treatments, as well as a detailed look at the neurobiology of addiction. The forum will be an excellent example of collaboration across federal and state lines.
December 2000 American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. As in past years, NIAAA will assist the AAAP through support of addiction psychiatry residents' attendance of the annual meeting, as well as some activities' of AAAP's PGY-5 committee.
Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America. As in past years, NIAAA will sponsor a number of workshops as part of CADCA's 2000 Leadership Forum. Dr. Gordis will also address the Forum.
February 2001 Public Policy Conference. NIAAA, in conjunction with NIDA, will assist the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors by supporting some educational sessions as a pre-conference workshop to this annual meeting.
Senator Harold Hughes Memorial Award. The 3rd annual Hughes Award will be awarded by Dr. Gordis at the awards breakfast of the Public Policy Conference

Research-to-Practice Activities

New York Collaboration, Phase II

NIAAA continues its work with the New York State Office of Substance Abuse Services, the Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York, and CSAT on moving ahead on Phase II of this project - the Researcher in Residence Program. Dr. Mike Hilton of DCPR has the programmatic lead on this project, and has been working with the programs and researchers as they have developed and implemented their specific efforts. Dr. Hilton has visited all of the sites and has written a report summarizing the project overall and how successfully each program was able to implement its chosen "intervention."

North Carolina Collaboration, Phase II

As with the New York State project, NIAAA and CSAT are moving ahead, in conjunction with our North Carolina colleagues, to Phase II of the research to practice effort. Discussions are underway to determine the exact nature of the Phase II activities, and expectations are that a process similar to that underway in New York will be implemented in North Carolina.

Activities for the balance of FY 2001 will be detailed in the February 2001 Director's Report.

Office of Scientific Affairs

Council Subcommittee Treatment Portfolio Report

The Report of the NIAAA Council Subcommittee for the Review of the Treatment Portfolio was accepted by Council at its June 2000 meeting and is now available online at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916081242/http://silk.nih.gov/silk/niaaa1/ grants/treatmentrpt.htm

Extramural Project Review Branch

  For this review round, Extramural Project Review Branch staff completed 16 review meetings with a total of 185 grant applications. Reviews completed include the following: 
Program Review Action
Alcohol Research Centers Six applications each receiving a Reverse Site Visit (Applicant Interview).
Peptide Regulation of Alcohol Intake 16 applications reviewed
Studying Alcohol and Spirituality 76 applications reviewed

The remaining 87 applications were not responding to any special initiatives and were reviewed in the Institute's standing review committees.

  Review Committees within the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) evaluated 167 research grant applications over the course of this cycle.
  Special Review Committees are in the process of being established for the evaluation of applications received in response to the following Request for Applications (RFAs).
RFA:AA-00-001 Targeted Mutations to Study Ethanol-Related Behaviors
RFA:AA-00-004 Microarray-Based Research on Alcohol's Effects on Behavior, Nervous System Function, and Organ Pathophysiology
RFA:AA-00-005 Research on Alcohol and Sleep

The outcome of these evaluations will be presented at the February 2001 Council meeting:

Scientific Communications Branch

Alcohol Research & Health

The AR&H issue focusing on highlights from the 10th Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health has been sent to the printers. Work continues on issues focusing on animal models in the study of alcohol problems, alcohol and tobacco, alcohol and violence, and chronobiology. In addition, concept papers are being developed on FAS and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders and on alcohol and prevention. The full text of all AR&H issues dating back to 1996 are now available on NIAAA's web site and can be accessed at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916081242/http://www.niaaa.nih.gov.

Alcohol Research & Health, NIAAA's quarterly, peer-reviewed journal, is available from the Government Printing Office at a subscription rate of $22 per year. Further information on subscribing may be obtained by contacting the Scientific Communications Branch at 301/443-3860.

Alcohol Alert

The issue of Alcohol Alert "From Genes to Geography-The Cutting Edge of Alcohol Research" has been sent to the printers. Work has begun on the next issue which will be an update on treatment research.

The quarterly bulletin is available free of charge. For information on obtaining copies of this and other NIAAA publications, contact the Scientific Communications Branch at 301/443-3860. Full text of all 49 Alerts are available on NIAAA's World-wide Web site at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916081242/http://www.niaaa.nih.gov.

Report to Congress on Alcohol and Health

Since the last Council meeting, the 30-page subject index of the Tenth Special Report to the U. S. Congress on Alcohol and Health was completed. Secretary Shalala approved the Report on June 22 and submitted the Report to Congress. Full text of the Report is available on NIAAA's web site. Hard copies also are being printed.

Other Publications

  Two monographs have been sent to the printers: Research Monograph #36 Ethanol and Intracellular Signaling: From Molecules to Behavior and Research Monograph #37 Alcohol Epidemiology of Small Geographic Areas.
 

The research-based booklet, Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child About Alcohol, continues to be very popular. To date, we have printed over 1,000,000 copies. The booklet has been adapted for Hispanic parents and caregivers and has been sent to the printers

Public Service Announcements

NIAAA in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is developing two television and two radio public service announcements on underage drinking. Materials to be used in the focus groups have been developed. Eight focus groups will be held during September in Phoenix, Arizona; Baltimore, Maryland; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. SAMHSA has provided additional funds to develop collateral materials including posters and print ads.

Public Education Campaign on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Campaign messages and "taglines" for posters, public service announcements, and transit displays are being tested. These materials will be used in this public education campaign targeting African-American women of childbearing age in Washington, DC. Plans are to launch the campaign during Spring 2001. As part of the campaign, we will be conducting pre- and post-surveys. An OMB package including the justification for collecting the data and the instrument was prepared and submitted to NIH to be forwarded to OMB.

Media Activities

Since the last Council meeting, NIAAA has issued the following three news advisories:

 

Alcohol Researchers Suggest Specific Binding Sites for Anesthetics and Alcohol (July 24 -- Adron Harris, Ph.D., et al., Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin).

 

Parents' Escape Drinking Evokes Children's Negative Response to Alcohol Smell (August 14 -- Julie A. Mennella, Ph.D., Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

 

Researchers Identify Potential Medication for Early-Onset Alcoholism/Findings Advance Search for Mechanisms of Disease (August 22 -- Bankole A. Johnson, M.D., University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas).

   At the annual RSA meeting in June, NIAAA announced its forthcoming online newsroom and a new collaboration for proactive media activities between NIAAA and RSA members.

Division of Basic Research

Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism

Drs. Antonio Noronha, Ellen Witt, Robert Karp, and Walter Hunt are developing an "Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism" (INIA). The purpose of the INIA is to integrate molecular, cellular, neurocircuitry, neural network, and whole-animal levels of analysis to study various aspects of neuroadaptive responses to excessive alcohol consumption. The ultimate goal is to foster development of highly integrated, multi-investigator teams pursuing focused, hypothesis-driven research related to the neuroadaptive changes that occur with repeated alcohol exposure. INIA will provide the opportunity for collaboration between prominent scientists in the alcohol field and prominent investigators from other fields, resulting in the application of new ideas and technology to the study of neuroadaptation to alcohol.

Workshops

"Cognitive Rehabilitation in Chronic Alcoholics and Children at Risk"

Drs. Ellen Witt, Antonio Noronha, Michael Eckardt, and Herbert Weingartner are co-organizing a workshop titled to be held October 19-20, 2000 at the Georgetown Holiday Inn, Washington, D.C. Experts from the alcohol field, cognitive/developmental neuroscientists, and clinical neuropsychologists/neurologists with expertise in assessment and remediation of a variety of neurobehavioral disorders will discuss whether current theories in cognitive neuroscience can be applied to remediating the cognitive deficits in alcoholic patients and in children who are at high risk for developing alcoholism.

QTL Mapping

Robert W. Karp, Ph.D., Program Director for Genetics, is organizing a Workshop on to be held in the Rockville/Bethesda area on November 30 - December 1, 2000. The workshop will bring together about 20 of NIAAA's QTL-mapping researchers with experts who have identified QTL influencing such complex traits as diabetes and lung tumor susceptibility in mice, brain nucleus neuron number in mice, sensory bristle number in Drosophila, and fruit quality in tomatoes, to deliberate strategies for molecular identification of QTL influencing alcohol-related behavioral traits.

Staff Activities

  Dr. Laurie Foudin presented on NIAAA's grant programs and led one of the break-out groups at a grantsmanship workshop which was held at the annual RSA meeting, June 24-29, 2000. She also attended the RSA sponsored Student Luncheon, which provides an opportunity for students to talk informally about their careers with researchers and staff from NIAAA.
  Dr. Leslie Isaki gave a presentation on NIH and Institute Research Priorities at the 10th International Meeting on Carbonyl Metabolism, Enzymology and Molecular Biology , which was held in Taos, New Mexico July 1-6.
  Dr. Sam Zakhari participated RSA Lecture Series "Alcohol and Alcohol Actions" by giving two lectures on Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System, on June 23rd and 24th, 2000, in Denver, Colorado.
  Dr. Zakhari co-organized and participated in a Symposium on Co-morbidity of Alcohol and Other Pathologic States by giving introductory remarks and a presentation on alcohol and cardiomyopathies.
  Dr. Zakhari discussed the state of the art alcohol research with a reporter from the BBC /Discovery channel.

Publications

Lowman, C., Hunt, W.A., Litten, R.Z. & Drummond, C.D. (2000) Research Perspectives on Alcohol Craving: An Overview. Addiction 95 (Supplement 2), S45-S54.

Drummond, D. Colin, Litten, R.Z., Lowman, C. & Hunt, W.A. (2000) Craving Research: Future Directions. Addiction 95 (Supplement 2) S247-S255.

Isaki L, Kresina TF. Directions for Biomedical Research in Alcohol and HIV: Where Are We Now and Where Can We Go? AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2000 Sep;16(13):1197-1207.

Division of Biometry and Epidemiology

Annual AEDS Data Directory

The AEDS Data Directory has been updated for the year 2000. It will be available in the near future on NIAAA's Website.

Abstracts

The following abstracts were accepted by the American Public Health Association (APHA) for presentation on the APHA conference in November:

Saadatmand, F. and Faden, V.B. Effects of dose-response during pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Hanna, E.Z.; Dufour, M.C.; Yi, H.; and Whitmore, C.C. Drinking, health and health-related behaviors among youth aged 12-16: Findings from the NHANES III.

Yi, H.; Stinson, F.S.; Hanna, E.Z.; and Whitmore, C.C. Work schedule and alcohol use disorder.

Whitmore, C.C.; Hanna, E.Z.; Yi, H.; and Dufour, M.C. An examination of alcohol consumption at diverse states of union formation: Findings from the NLAES 92.

Division Of Clinical and Prevention Research

Office of the Director

Presentations

  Dr. Richard Fuller gave a presentation entitled "The Disease Model of Alcoholism" at the Developing Best Practice Standards of Emergency Medical Care for the Alcohol-Impaired Patient National Conference, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Emergency Nurses Association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians, in Washington, D.C., June 2, 2000.
  Dr. Fuller gave a presentation entitled, "Introduction: Design and Rationale for COMBINE" at the Annual RSA Meeting Denver, Colorado, June 25, 2000.
  Dr. Fuller presented on "Alcoholism Treatment in the United States" at the Tokyo Alcohol Center, Narimasu Kohsei Hospital, in Tokyo, Japan, July 4, 2000.
  Dr. Richard Fuller presented on "Alcoholism Treatment" at the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, in Washington, D.C., July 12, 2000.
  Dr. John Allen presented "Findings of Project MATCH" at the Neuroscience and Genetic Research Updates 10th Annual Psychiatric Nursing Conference in Bethesda, Maryland, June 5, 2000.
  Dr. John Allen presented "Clinical Applications of Biomarkers for Alcoholism Treatment" at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, in San Francisco, California, July 24-27, 2000. 

Publications

Allen, J.P., Litten, R.Z., Fertig, J.B. & Sillanaukee, P. (2000). Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin, Gamma Glutamyl Transferase and Macrocytic Volume as Biomarkers of Alcohol Problems in Women. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 24(4), 492-496.

Treatment Research Branch

Presentations

  June 25 - Dr. Margaret Mattson co-chaired a Symposium on" Design and Rationale for COMBINE, a Multisite Study on Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions for Alcohol Dependence" at the Research Society on Alcoholism Annual Meeting, in Denver, Colorado.
  June 27- Drs. Margaret Mattson, K. Jeffries-Leonard, Y-J Brower, and C.E. Jordan presented a Poster titled "Impact of New Research Findings on Alcoholism Treatment: A Pilot Study" at the Research Society on Alcoholism Annual Meeting, in Denver, Colorado.

Publications

Lowman, C., Hunt, W.A., Litten, R.Z. & Drummond, C.D. (2000) Research Perspectives on Alcohol Craving: An Overview. Addiction 95 (Supplement 2), S45-S54.

Drummond, D. Colin, Litten, R.Z., Lowman, C. & Hunt, W.A. (2000) Craving Research: Future Directions. Addiction 95 (Supplement 2) S247-S255.

Prevention Research Branch

Minority-focused Technical Assistance

  • As previously reported, the Prevention Research Branch conducted, prior to the start of the Annual RSA Meeting, a technical assistance workshop (co-funded by the NIH Office of Research on Minority Health). Of the 30 attendees, 25 were members of racial/ethnic minority groups which are underrepresented among NIH's research constituency. The purpose of the workshop, which was chaired by Dr. Jan Howard, was to provide information and guidance for potential grant applicants. Extramural faculty included Drs. Brenda Miller, Ken Sher, Scott Tonigan, Fred Beauvais, Joel Grube, Judith Arroyo, and Nancy Handmaker. Four staff members of PRB (Drs. Jan Howard, Susan Martin, Gayle Boyd, and Kendall Bryant) also gave presentations and participated in the small-group discussions. After the workshop, attendees were given an opportunity to attend two days of RSA sessions and to meet established researchers in their areas of interest.
  • During July and August, Dr. Jan Howard arranged and coordinated three small studies by minority investigators conducted under the mentorship of established researchers. The one-on-one mentee/mentor relationships involved: Dr. Anthony Garcia as investigator and Dr. Geoffrey Hunt as mentor on a study of factors influencing alcohol use and abuse among urban American Indian youth; Dr. Rosa Crum as investigator and Dr. James Anthony as mentor on a study that applies cutting-edge statistical methodologies to a longitudinal data set on youth; and Dr. Catherine Reimer as investigator and Dr. Gerald Mohatt as mentor on a study that explores linkages between spirituality and the prevention of alcohol-related problems among the Inupiat in Alaska.

Collaborative Funding of Grants

The NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) selected two PRB grants for collaborative funding: "Sexual Assault Perpetration: Misperception and Alcohol" (R01 AA11996-03, Antonia Abbey, PI) received $50,000 in direct costs, $74,500 in total costs); and "NYS Family Study: Problem Alcohol Use and Problem Behavior" (R01 AA11949-01, Delbert Elliott, PI,) received $150,000 for its innovative study on violence.

Workshop on the Prevention of Alcohol Problems Among College Students

On July 17-18, Dr. Boyd chaired a working group of NIAAA grantees who are conducting research on the prevention of alcohol problems among college students. The meeting was held in Washington, D.C., and was attended by representatives from 17 NIAAA-supported research projects on college drinking. These included the five projects funded under the 1999 RFA on this topic, which was issued jointly with the Department of Education and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. The meeting provided an opportunity for investigators to share research designs, data and methodologies, exchange measurement instruments, and discuss both theoretical and practical issues in prevention research among college populations. Support for this working group was provided by the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program at the Department of Education.

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences

Beginning in FY 2001, Dr. Jan Howard will be managing a new contract that helps support a special prevention initiative at the, a free-standing "think tank" located in Stanford California, near Stanford University. A small select group of fellows will spend up to 12 months at the Center exploring the causes, consequences, and prevention of youth behavioral problems associated with drug, tobacco, and alcohol abuse. This effort is also being supported by other NIH Institutes and Offices (NIDA, NCI, the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research, and the Office of AIDS Research) as well as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Liaison Activities

  Dr. Susan Martin served as a member of the Planning/Organizing Committee for the Alcohol and Policy XII Conference which was held in Washington, D.C. May 11, 12, and 13. This year the conference was hosted by the National Crime Prevention Council and sponsored by such organizations as the Bureau of Justice Assistance (Department of Justice) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
  Between January 31 and June 5, 2000, Dr. Boyd participated in three meetings of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) College Commission. This Commission was convened to provide the MADD Board of Directors with recommendations for actions their organization can take to reduce alcohol problems among college students and on campuses.
  Dr. Suzanne Heurtin-Roberts served on the planning committee that organized the conference "Toward Higher Levels of Analysis: Progress and Promise in Research on Social and Cultural Dimensions of Health," sponsored by the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research at the Natcher Center on June 27 and 28. Dr. Heurtin-Roberts represented NIAAA at this conference and at a working group meeting on June 29 which focused on developing a future research agenda for the behavioral and social sciences at NIH. Dr. Heurtin-Roberts received a letter of commendation from Dr. Peter Kaufmann, Acting Director of OBSSR for her activities associated with the conference,
  June 28 and 29 - Dr. Susan Martin participated as a member of the Planning Board for the Surgeon General's Report on Youth Violence in a meeting held in Washington, DC. The report, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2000, will include recommendations for reducing youth violence.
  July 24 - 25 - Dr. Kendall Bryant represented NIAAA at a meeting in Washington D.C. of the Executive Steering Committee of the HIV/AIDS Treatment Adherence, Health Outcomes, and Cost Study. This study is supported through a multi-agency cooperative agreement and focuses on HIV+ individuals with co-occurring substance abuse and psychiatric disorders.
  August 10 - Dr. Jan Howard represented NIAAA at the quarterly meeting of the Secretary of Health and Human Services' Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative. The meeting was held in Washington, D.C. and involved representatives from a broad spectrum of federal agencies. Dr. Howard discussed new demands on the Prevention Research Branch of NIAAA to respond to requests from states, communities, and private organizations for information about "what works" in preventing alcohol abuse and related problems, as determined by scientifically-based research. She applauded the increasing interest in research findings, and described the multiple ways in which NIAAA is responding to this challenge: By providing consultation, by sponsoring speakers at prevention-focused national meetings, and by publishing new materials that help prevention-program administrators interpret and apply state-of-the-science findings in everyday practice.

Presentations

  May 12, 13, and 14 - Dr. Susan Martin served as chair for three sessions at the Alcohol and Policy XII Conference in Washington, D.C. These sessions were respectively titled: "Access Denied: Reducing Alcohol Availability"; "Aggression Escalator: The Role of Alcohol in Violence"; and "Alcohol and Adolescents: A Violent Combination."
  June 11 - Dr. Suzanne Heurtin-Roberts, under sponsorship of the NIH OBSSR, gave a presentation "Adherence in Everyday Life: The Person in the Behavioral Environment," at the annual Conference of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, held in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada.
  June 21 - Dr. Boyd organized and chaired a symposium entitled, "Prevention of College Alcohol Problems," at the annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol in Denver, Colorado. Five NIAAA-supported researchers presented papers on their prevention research on college campuses for this symposium
  June 24 - Drs. Susan Martin and Kendall Bryant presented a Poster titled "Self-Reported Alcohol Use by 1998 ADAM Arrestees" at the Annual RSA Meeting. "ADAM" stands for the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring data that is collected quarterly by the National Institute of Justice.
  June 27 - Dr. Heurtin-Roberts served as organizer and moderator for the panel on Sociocultural Processes and Health at the conference, "Toward Higher Levels of Analysis: Progress and Promise in Research on Social and Cultural Dimensions of Health," sponsored by the NIH OBSSR at the Natcher Center, NIH Campus, Bethesda, Maryland.
  July 8 - Dr. Kendall Bryant presented a concurrent session "Alcohol Use and HIV Prevention: Issues and Strategies" at the 3rd International HIV Prevention Works Symposium, as part of the XIII International AIDS Conference, in Durban, South Africa. August 12 - Dr. Susan Martin was a discussant at a session, "Substance Use, Abuse and Treatment: at the Annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Washington, DC.
  August 13 - Dr. Susan Martin represented NIAAA at an Informational Poster Session: Opportunities for Research Support at the Annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Washington, DC.

Health Services Research Branch

Grantee Presentations

The Health Services Research Branch hosted presentations at NIAAA from two of our grantees:

  July 19, 2000 - Dr. Constance Weisner, Professor of Psychiatry, UCSF, presented data from her recent study comparing residential and day hospital alcohol treatment. She also discussed other current studies at Kaiser, specifically those on primary care and on adolescents. As a senior investigator working with Kaiser, she addressed the challenges and opportunities in doing research within a health plan, including topics such as work with databases, outcomes monitoring, and research to practice issues.
  July 21, 2000 - Dr. Timothy O'Farrell of Harvard University presented his recent research on couple-family treatments for alcoholism. Dr. O'Farrell presented data from his work demonstrating that couples who are successful at therapy show a reduction in domestic violence discussion.

Staff Activities

Dr. Harold I. Perl served on the faculty of the NIH Regional Seminar on Grants Administration on July 13 and 14 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, making presentations in the areas of, Research Project Monitoring, Research Administration for Faculty, and Developing Institute Program Research Initiatives.

Presentations

  Dr. Harold I. Perl organized and served as chairman of a symposium session titled, "The Challenge of Hard-To-Reach Populations: Creative Solutions for Alcohol Services Research," at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Association for Health Services Research, on June 26th in Los Angeles, California.
  Dr. Harold I. Perl was a panel participant in a symposium session titled, "NIMH, NIDA, & NIAAA: Research Agenda" at the 17th Annual Meeting of the Association for Health Services Research, on June 25 in Los Angeles, California.
  Dr. Harold I. Perl addressed a group of research scientists and fellows from the Rand Corporation and the University of California, Los Angeles on "Funding Opportunities and Grant Mechanisms at NIAAA and NIH," on June 28 in Santa Monica, California.
  Dr. Harold I. Perl, in collaboration with the NIAAA Office of Policy, Legislation, and Public Liaison, organized a series of symposia and invited addresses co-sponsored with the American Psychological Association Division on Addictions at the 108th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, on August 4 through 8 in Washington, DC.
  Dr. Harold I. Perl was a panel participant in a symposium session titled "The Future of Addiction Prevention and Treatment: Funding Agencies Perspectives" at the 108th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, on August 5 in Washington, DC.
  Dr. Harold I. Perl addressed a group of research scientists and faculty members from the University of Alaska on "Funding Opportunities and Grant Mechanisms at NIAAA and NIH," on August 23 in Anchorage, Alaska.
  Dr. Harold I. Perl organized and served as chairman of a symposium session titled "Brief Interventions for Alcohol Problems: More Than Just a Quick Fix" at the 108th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, on August 6 in Washington, DC.
  Dr. Mike Hilton chaired and organized a symposium "Improving Alcoholism Treatment Across the Spectrum of Services," at the annual RSA meeting June 28, 2000, Denver, Colorado.
  Dr. Mike Hilton served as discussant at a symposium "Access, Costs, and Health Services Utilization in Different Samples of Alcoholics" at the annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, June 25, 2000, Denver, Colorado.
  Dr. Mike Hilton participated in a "Roundtable on Federal Funding" at the annual meeting of the HMO Research Network, April 4-5, 2000, Atlanta, Georgia.

Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research

Significant Events

New Laboratory Established

As a result of Dr. Kunos' appointment as Scientific Director, NIAAA, a new Laboratory of Physiologic Studies has been established. The new Laboratory will comprise two Sections: Neuroendocrinology with Dr. Kunos as Chief; and Liver Biology with Dr. Bin Gao as Acting Chief. Other appointments associated with the new laboratory are listed under Staffing Update below.

New CRADA

On 27 July 2000, a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) was established between the Section of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, LMBB, and Martek Biosciences to develop inexpensive 30-40 percent deuterium-labeled DHA, with a chemical purity of 50-98 percent, in quantities of 10-100g. The product will be used for in vivo biochemical studies of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and biophysical investigations of the interaction of DHA-containing lipids with neural receptor proteins. Synthesis of partially deuterated DHA, using dinoflagellate cultures grown in deuterated water, will be conducted in Martek's aerated fomenters. Efficient strategies of DHA enrichment will be developed.

NIH Summer Research Program

Sixty-three percent (12 of 19) of DICBR's Summer Interns in Biomedical Research participated in the NIH Summer Research Program Poster Day held on 3 August 2000. The annual event is a valuable training ground where students showcase their research and learn to effectively communicate findings to peers and the scientific community at-large. We are proud of these young scientists' accomplishments and have included a list of their presentations below. 

DICBR-Sponsored Seminars

6/20/00 Dr Klaus-Peter Lesch, University of Wuerzburg, gave the lecture Serotonin Transporter and Monoamine Oxidase-A: Two Examples for the Candidate Gene Approach to Behavioral Traits

Staff Activities

August 3 - NIH Summer Research Program Poster Day

Poster/Presenter Preceptor
"Kinetic Studies on the Activation of G Protein by Rhodopsin". Lisa L. Chatwood, Miami University Drake Mitchell, LMBB
Deletional Analysis of the Role of the Large Intracellular Loop in the Function of the 5HT3A Receptor". Samantha C. Chirillo, Penn State University Forrest Weight & Li Zhang, LMCN
"Involvement of Raf-1 Kinase in the Protective Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Neuronal Apoptosis". Nicole E. Follmer, Princeton University Mohammed Akbar & Hee-Yong Kim
"SNP Detection within the Human LHX-2 Gene". Diego M. Gomez, University of Virginia David Goldman & Robert Lipsky, LNG
"PET Image Differences in Alcoholics vs Controls". Nidhi Gupta, George Washington University Wendol Williams, LCS
"Deuterium NMR Studies of Rhodopsin-Lipid Interactions". Vagish S. Hemmige, Harvard University Klaus Gawrisch & Ivan V. Polozov, LMBB
Allele Frequencies of XPD Gene Polymorphisms in Several Specific Populations". Augustine Kane, Winston Churchill High School Philip J. Brooks, LNG
"Single Amino Acid Mutation Altering the Apparent Agonist Affinity of 5-HT3 Receptors". Albert C. Li, UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School Forrest Weight, LMCN
"XPA and XPG Expression in the Adult and Neonatal Rat Brain". Gamaliel Lorenzo, University of California, Los Angeles Philip J. Brooks & David Goldman, LNG
"Effects of PH on Purinergic Receptor Response to ATP: Role of His-284 in P2X4 Receptor Subtype". Adeboye B. Ogunseitan, University of Illinois College of Medicine Randall Steward & Forrest Weight, LNG
"Detection of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Human ChAT (Choline Acetyltransferase) and VACht (Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter) Gene". Michael R. Repik, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine David Goldman & Robert Lipsky, LNG
"Exploring Membrane Organization of Photoreceptor Cells: Interaction of Rhodopsin with Lipids". Sara B. Shelton, University of Washington Burton Litman & Alla Polozova, LMBB

Laboratory of Clinical Studies

Annual Meeting Of The American Society Of Primatology, Bolder Co, 6/21-25/00.
Allyson Bennett Lecture - Current Studies and Future Directions for Behavioral Genetic Research in Nonhuman Primate Populations
Todd Graham Poster - A Single Alcohol Exposure Changes Heart Rate Variability in Rhesus Monkeys
James D. Higley Chaired Symposium and presented lecture Acquisition and Maintenance of Social Dominance in Macaques and Vervets
Steven Lindell Poster - CSF 5-HIAA and MHPG Predict Infant Abuse and Rejection by Rhesus Macaque Mothers
Kim Wittenberg Poster-Acute Alcohol Exposure Decreases Signal Complexity in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta)

Laboratory of Neurogenetics

RSA Meeting, Denver Co, 6/24-29/00
Philip J Brooks Poster - DNA Damage, DNA Repair, Neurodegeneration
Claudia R Harris Poster - WAIS-R Performance Scores in Alcoholics & Nonalcoholics in a Plains Indian Tribe
8th World Congress on Psychiatric Genetics, Versailles, France, 8/27-31/00
Jeffrey Long Invited lecture Population Genetics of a Complex Disease, Alcoholism
Robert Lipsky Poster - "NF Kappa B is a Critical Determinant in NMDA Receptor-Mediated Neuroprotection

Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics

PUFA in Maternal and Child Health Conference, Kansas City Mo, 09/10-13/00
Aneeq Ahmad Poster - N-3 Deficiency N-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency and Hippocampal Morphology
Mohammed Akbar Poster - DHA Mediates Anti-Apoptotic Effects Through Phosphat Inos 3-KIN Pathway: A Novel Observation in Neuronal Apoptosis
Klaus Gawrisch Lecture - NMR Investigations of Docosahexaenoic Acid Structure and Flexibility
Rebecca Greiner Poster - DHA-Deficient Rats Exhibit Learning Deficits in Olfactory-Based Behavioral Tasks
Joseph Hibbeln Poster - Infant Formulas with DHA & AA Improve Motor Skills & Visual Orientation in Infancy & Heart Rate Variability in Adolescence
Hee Yong Kim Lecture - Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Neuronal Apoptosis
Sun-Young Lim Poster - Dose Response Effect of DHA Ethyl Ester & Egg Phos on Maze Ability & Fatty Acid Composition of Plasma & Brain Lipid in Mice
Yuhong Lin Poster - Study of Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism Using Multiple Stable-Isotope Labeled Precursors
Burton Litman Lecture - Modulation of the Signaling in the Visual Transduction Pathway by DHA Containing Phospholipids
Drake Mitchell Poster - Effects of Acyl Chain Unsaturation and Cholesterol on the Rate of Receptor-G Protein Coupling
Toru Moriguchi Lectures - Spatial Task Performance Depends Upon Level of Brain Docosahexaenoic Acid; Use of Artificial Rat Breast & Artificial Rat Milk for Complete Control of Rodent Diet
Mahadev Murthy Poster - Plasma Essential Fatty Acids, Vitamins E & A in Relation to Alcohol Int in African-American Women at 24 Weeks Gestation
Shui-Lin Niu Poster - Effect of DHA and Cholesterol on Receptor-G Protein Coupling
Alla Polozova Poster - Role of DHA Info of Membrane Domains: Specific Association of Rhodopsin with D:22:6-PC
Norman Salem Jr. Lecture - Mechanisms of Action of DHA

Other Presentations Made or Meetings Attended

George Kunos (OD) Attended ISBRA 2000 meeting, Yokohama, Japan; and seminar Neurology/Neuron Diseases of Alcohol at Shandong Cancer Biotherapy Center, Academy of Medical Science, Shandong, Jinan, China, 7/2-21/00
Pascale Guillot (LNG) Lecture - Genetic Determination of Aggressive Behavior at the XIV World Meeting of the International Society For Research on Aggression, Valencia, Spain, 7/9-14/00
Ivan Polozov (LMBB) Poster - Deuterium NMR Studies Of Rhodopsin Lipid Interactions Docosahexaenoic Acid Influence On Membrane Functions at the Molecular Biophysics of Cellular Membrane Conference, Saxtons River VT, 7/15-20/00
James Higley (LCS) Invited lecture - Phenotypic Outcomes in CNS Serotonin and Serotonin-Mediated Behavior: Developmental and Genotypic Influences Using a Nonhuman Primate Model. Stockholm, Sweden, 7/21-8/1/00
Klaus Gawrisch (LMBB) Lecture - New Insights into Bio-Membrane Structure from Two-Dimensional Nuclear/Overhauser Enhancement in Spectroscopy, XIX International Conference on Magnetic Resonance In Biological Systems, Florence, IT, 8/20-25/00
Klaus Gawrisch (LMBB) Lectures - Action on Membrane-Looking Beyond the Fluidity Hypothesis; Biophysical Properties Of Polyunsaturated Lipid Membranes, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, 8/28-29/00
Richard Veech (LMBB) Lecture - Application of Krebs' Work in Diseases, Krebs Centenary Symposium, Oxford UK, 9/13-15/00

Articles/Reviews

Burgdorf J, Knutson B, Panksepp J: Anticipation of rewarding electrical brain stimulation evokes ultrasonic vocalization in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience 2000;114(2):320-7

Cascante M, Centelles JJ, Veech RL, Lee WNP, Boros LG: Role of thiamin (vitamin B-1) and transketolase in tumor cell proliferation. Nutrition And Cancer-An International Journal 2000;36(2):150-4 (Review)

Fahlke C, Lorenz JG, Long J, Champoux M, Suomi SJ, Higley JD: Rearing experiences and stress-induced plasma cortisol as early risk factors for excessive alcohol consumption in nonhuman primates. Alcoholism-Clinical & Experimental Research 2000;24(5):644-50

George DT, Hibbeln JR, Ragan PW, Umhau JC, Phillips MJ, Doty L, Hommer D, Rawlings RR: Lactate-induced rage and panic in a select group of subjects who perpetrate acts of domestic violence. Biological Psychiatry 2000;47(9):804-12

Habib KE, Weld KP, Rice KC, Pushkas J, Champoux M, Listwak S, Webster EL, Atkinson AJ, Schulkin J, Contoreggi C, Chrousos GP, McCann SM, Suomi SJ, Higley JD, Gold PW: Oral administration of a corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist significantly attenuates behavioral, neuroendocrine, and autonomic responses to stress in primates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2000;97(11):6079-84

Huster D, Arnold K, Gawrisch K: Strength of Ca2+ binding to retinal lipid membranes: Consequences for lipid organization. Biophysical Journal 2000;78(6):3011-8

Iwata N, Virkkunen M, Goldman D: Identification of a naturally occurring Pro385-Ser385 substitution in the GABA(A) receptor alpha 6 subunit gene in alcoholics and healthy volunteers. Molecular Psychiatry 2000;5(3): 316-9

Jeong KS, Song BJ, Keck-Waggoner CL, Huh CG, Popescu NC: Assignment of the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase gene (Aldh2) to mouse chromosome 5 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics 2000;89(1-2):54-5

Kashiwaya Y, Takeshima T, Mori N, Nakashima K, Clarke K, Veech RL: D-beta-hydroxybutyrate protects neurons in models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. . Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA 2000;97(10):5440-4

Kaye WH, Lilenfeld LR, Berrettini WH, Strober M, Devlin B, Klump KL, Goldman D, Bulik CM, Halmi KA, Fichter MM, Kaplan A, Woodside DB, Treasure J, Plotnicov KH, Polllice C, Rao R, McConaha CW: A search for susceptibility loci for anorexia nervosa: Methods and sample description. Biological Psychiatry 2000;47(9):794-803

Knutson B, Westdorp A, Kaiser E, Hommer D: fMRI visualization of brain activity during a monetary incentive delay task. Neuroimage 2000;12(1):20-7

Ryu SY, Jeong KS, Yoon WK, Park SJ, Kang BN, Kim SH, Park BK, Cho SW: Somatostatin and substance P induced in vivo by lipopolysaccharide and in peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or interferon-gamma have differential effects on murine cytokine production. Neuroimmunomodulation 2000;8(1):25-30

Torrey EF, Miller J, Rawlings R, Yolken RH: Seasonal birth patterns of neurological disorders. Neuroepidemiology 2000;19(4):177-85

Vanakoski J, Mazzanti C, Naukkarinen H, Virkkunen M, Goldman D: An abundant proneurotensin polymorphism, 479A>G, and a test of its association with alcohol dependence in a Finnish population. Alcoholism-Clinical & Experimental Research 2000;24(6):762-5

Williams RC, Long JC, Hanson RL, Sievers ML, Knowler WC: Individual estimates of European genetic admixture associated with lower body-mass index, plasma glucose, and prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Pima Indians. American Journal of Human Genetics 2000;66(2):527-38

Published Abstracts

Bae MA, Soh Y, Pie JE, Song BJ: Selective activation or the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase pathway during acetaminophen-induced apoptosis. FASEB J 2000;14(8):A1516

Catalan J, Moriguchi T, Slotnick B, et al: Cognitive deficits in rats with low brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) assessed using olfaction. Pediatr Res 2000;47(4):285A (Part 2 Suppl. S)

Gerald MS, Habib KE, Weld KP, et al: Effects of acute and chronic social stress on levels of CSF corticotropin-releasing hormone. Biol Psychiat 2000;47(8):71S (Suppl. S)

Goldman D, Cravchik A: Genetic variation in dopamine and serotonin function. Biol Psychiat 2000;47(8):117S-8S (Suppl. S)

Goldman D, Tsuang MT, Knowles JA, et al: Molecular genetics of substance abuse: Analyzing complex traits. Biol Psychiat 2000;47(8):56S-7S (Suppl. S)

Higley JD, Bennett AJ, Heils A, et al: Early rearing & genotypic influences on CNS serotonin & behavior in nonhuman primates. BIOL PSYCHIAT 2000;47(8):11S (Suppl. S)

Iwata N, Ozaki N, Inada T, et al: An association of a 5-HT5A receptor polymorphism, Pro15Ser, to Japanese schizophrenia. Biol Psychiat 2000;47(8):132S (Suppl. S)

Malhotra AK, Goldman D: Reverse pharmacogenetics: A new approach to rapid relapse in schizophrenia? Biol Psychiat 2000;47(8):16S (Suppl. S)

Roca CA, Harlow BL, Davis CL, et al: Role of polymorphisms in serotonin genes in PMDD. Biol Psychiat 2000;47(8):132S (Suppl. S)

Uauy R, Rojas CV, Fuenzalida L, et al: Effect of n-3 fatty acid deficiency on peroxisomal proliferator activated receptor PPAR alpha and beta gene expression in rat liver brain and retina. Pediatr Res 2000;47(4):298A (Part 2 Suppl. S)

Westergaard GC, Suomi SJ, Higley JD: CSF5-HIAA and aggression in primates: Species and interindividual differences. Biol Psychiat 2000;47(8):146S (Suppl. S)

Wan J, Shoaf SE: Chlorzoxazone metabolism is increased in fasted Sprague-Dawley rats. FASEB J 2000;14(8):A1436

VI. UPCOMING MEETINGS

Date Title Contact
October 12-13 Working Group on the Study of Alcohol-Related Health Disparities Dr. Suzanne Heurtin-Roberts
301/443-0639
sheurtin@mail.nih.gov
October 17 Bringing Communities Together: A Discussion on College Drinking From the Perspectives of a Researcher, University President, Neighbor, and Student U. S. Department of Education's 14th Annual National Meeting on Alcohol, Other Drug, and Violence Prevention in Higher Education, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Fred Donodeo
301/44-6370
fdonodeo@niaaa.nih.gov
October 19-20 Cognitive Rehabilitation in Chronic Alcoholics and Children at Risk Dr. Ellen Witt
301/443-6545
ewitt@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
October 26-29 Confronting Challenges to Alcohol-Focused Prevention Research, Dr. Jan Howard
301/443-1678
jhoward@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
November 16 Mark Keller Honorary Lecture and Award - Dr. Carrie Randall has been selected to receive the 5th annual Mark Keller Award and to deliver the lecture entitled, "Alcohol and Pregnancy: Highlights From Three Decades of Research." Nancy Colladay
301/443-3860.
ncollada@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
November 19-21 "The Science of the Placebo: Toward an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda." Maria Smith (TASCON, Inc). 301/315-9000
placebo@tascon.com.
November 30-December 1, QTL Endgame: Strategies for Gene Identification Dr. Robert Karp
301/443-2239
rkarp@willco.niaaa.nih.gov

VII. STAFF NOTES

Staffing Update

Office of the Director

I am pleased to announce the promotion of NIAAA Deputy Director Mary C. Dufour, M.D., M.P.H. to the rank of Assistant Surgeon General (ASG) in the Commissioned Corps of the U. S. Public Health Service (PHS). Equivalent Navy ranks [Rear Admiral (lower half)] are often used when referring to Corps officers. The uniform of the Corps is identical to that of the Navy with the exception of the insignia.

The Commissioned Corps of the PHS is an all officer organization comprised entirely of health professionals. As of March 2000, the active duty strength of the Corps was 5712 officers. The Corps is one of the seven Uniformed Services of the U.S., the others being the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mission of the Corps is to provide highly trained and mobile health professionals who carry out programs to promote the health of the Nation.

Admiral Dufour joined the PHS Commisioned Corps in 1985 as a Lieutenant Commander. During her tenure she has been very active in many Corps activities, including serving on numerous committees, and selection, promotion and medical boards.

Office Of Collaborative Research Activities

Diedra Roach, M.D. joins the Office of Collaborative Research Activities as a medical officer. Dr. Roach is an internist and was formerly Administrator of the Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration of the District of Columbia.

Office of Policy, Legislation, And Public Liaison

Kelly Green Kahn, has joined the permanent OPLPL staff as a Program Analyst. Kelly has spent the last two years as a National Institutes of Health Presidential Management Intern (PMI), with rotations as a Minority Health Specialist at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a Program and Policy Analyst with NIAAA, a Congressional Fellow with Senator Dodd (D-CT), a Grants Management Specialist with the National Center for Research Resources, a Budget Analyst for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and a Legislative Analyst for the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services. Kelly received her Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Rutgers University.

Amy Matush joins OPLPL as an incoming PMI. Unlike some of our other PMI colleagues whom you have met over the past few years, Amy is "designated" to NIAAA. In other words, she is an NIAAA employee. Amy recently graduated from West Virginia University's School of Medicine with a MS in Community Health Education. She has spent the past year with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of a cooperative agreement between NHTSA and WVU. While at NHTSA Amy's two major projects were to develop a Community Action Kit entitled "Getting to School Safely" (to be released early September) and to plan and organize the "Bicycle Safety Conference 2000" (held July 2000).

Office of Scientific Affairs

Mary Westcott, Ph.D.has joined the Office of Scientific Affairs and will be participating in planning and evaluation activities. Dr. Westcott has a doctorate in sociology, with an emphasis in social psychology, mental health, and the family. She has worked in the substance abuse and mental health areas for more than 12 years. Her most recent appointment has been for eight years with the Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA; she has also worked at NIDA and the General Accounting Office.

Division of Basic Research

Dr. Roger Sorensen has been appointed as a "designated" PMI within the Division of Basic Research. Dr. Sorensen received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Indiana University, Bloomington, and recently completed a MPA in Healthcare Management and Policy from Rutgers University, Camden, NJ. He has held post-doctoral positions at Texas Christian University, Ft. Worth and the University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMAB) and faculty positions at both UMAB and Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.

Dr. Sorensen's scientific research interests include the structure and function of the nervous system. Specifically, Roger has pursued the molecular characterization of neuronal proteins including the identification, subcellular localization and biochemical characterization of Ca and cAMP-dependent protein kinases, and of ATPases, as well as characterization of the effects of phencyclidine (PCP), snake venom toxins (dendrotoxins) and ethanol, on neuronal and cardiac voltage-dependent K and Ca channels. During his PMI appointment, Dr. Sorensen will oversee primarily the neurophysiology research portfolio, including the effects of ethanol on ion channels and electrical conductances within the nervous system, and the identification of neural circuitries underlying neuroadaptation to alcohol.

Division of Clinical and Prevention Research

Harold I. Perl, Ph.D., an NIAAA employee since 1989, was appointed Chief of the Health Services Research Branch, Division of Clinical and Prevention Research, on August 28, 2000. Dr. Perl earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester in 1974 and his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of Maryland in 1981 and 1987 respectively. Dr. Perl is a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland. While at NIAAA, Dr. Perl has focused his efforts on treatment effectiveness and outcomes research, brief interventions across diverse settings, alcohol problems among homeless persons, and alcohol services research methodology. Dr. Perl has recently organized and co-edited a special supplement to the journal Addiction on health services research methodology, co-authoring two of the articles in it. The supplement will be published in November 2000.

Wendy B. Smith, Ph.D., Program Director, Research on Women and Special Populations, Division of Clinical and Prevention Research has left NIAAA to join the Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute. As Manager of the new Research Development and Support Program in the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Dr. Smith will lead the development of the Clinical Trials Program in alternative medicine for the NCI.

Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research

Candidate Sought

The Office of the Director, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR), is seeking a candidate to "establish a multidisciplinary research program to assess the role of particular molecular targets of alcohol in the central nervous system in acute intoxication and alcohol seeking behavior." The successful candidate will become Chief of a new laboratory within the DICBR-the Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience.

New Laboratory of Physiologic Studies Laboratory Appointments

Section on Neuroendocrinology

Sandor Batkai, M.D., was appointed as a Special Volunteer (6/01/00 - 5/31/01). Dr. Batkai received his M.D. (1994) from Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary. In November 1999, Dr. Batkai joined the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, MCV/VCU as a post-doctoral associate conducting research in vascular biology under the mentorship of Dr. Kunos. During his Special Volunteer appointment within the DICBR, Dr. Batkai will continue to be sponsored by the MCV/VCU, supported under a Martin Rodbell Fellowship. His research will focus on the interaction of endogenous cannabinoids and ethanol on vascular tone. He will also continue to characterize a novel endothelial receptor that mediates the vasodilator action of the endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide, and to explore the distribution of this receptor in the vascular bed of various organs.

Section on Liver Biology

Bin Gao, M.D., Ph.D., was appointed as an Investigator (Tenure-Track), effective 30 July 2000. Dr. Gao received his M.D. (1986) from the Wannan Medical College, China and his Ph.D. (1991) in Immunology from the Norman Bethume University of Medical Science, China. Prior to joining the NIAAA, he held a tenure-track post of Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, MCV/VCU, Richmond. In recognition of his contribution to the field, Dr. Gao was recently presented the Young Investigator Award of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism. In his current appointment as Acting Chief, Section on Liver Biology, Dr. Gao plans to develop a state-of-the-art program that will enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of a wide variety of disorders caused by ethanol consumption, with particular emphasis on the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. This pathway has been implicated in a variety of cellular functions in the hematopoietic, immune, neuronal and hepatic systems. Ethanol inhibition of JAK-STAT activation may be a mechanism by which a wide variety of disorders are caused. Thus, this research could prove beneficial in the design of novel drugs with therapeutic potential.

Feng Hong, M.D., was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (9/01/00 - 8/31/02). Dr. Hong received his M.D., (1998) from Shandong Medical University and his BA (1982) in Medicine from Jining Medical College, China. Between 1982-1992, he served as Chief Resident Physician and taught the undergraduate course "Digestive System Diseases" at the first teaching hospital of Jining Medical College in addition to conducting research on DNA/RNA detection, oncogenic virus, neoplastic gene diagnosis and therapy and Chinese herb inhibition growth of carcinoma cells. He served as a Post-doctoral Fellow (1998-99) at Vrije University, Belgium, prior to accepting a fellowship at MCV/VCU (1999), under the mentorship of Dr. Gao, on a project to identify the critical proinflammatory cytokines involved in alcoholic liver disease. During this appointment, Dr. Hong will continue to investigate and attempt to identify cytokines that control liver regeneration and protect against alcoholic liver injury.

Won Ho Kim, Ph.D., was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (9/01/00 - 8/31/02). Dr. Kim received his Ph.D. (1999) and MS (1995) in Molecular Biology with a major concentration in Biochemistry from the University of Chung-Ang, Korea. He holds a BS (1990) in Biology from the National University of Kyung Sang. From 1990-99, Dr. Kim served as a Research Associate in the Department of Life Science, University of Chung-Aug, culminating with his thesis titled "Regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis induced by ceramide and naphthoquinone derivative in human hepatocarcinoma cells." The findings of research in which Dr. Kim participated are reported in seven publications, three of which he is the principal author. While with the DICBR, under the mentorship of Dr. Gao, Dr. Kim's post-doctoral training will focus on research that will explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in liver regeneration and their role as potential targets for alcohol-induced liver disease.

Jie Liu, M.D., Ph.D., was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (8/01/00 - 7/31/02). Dr. Liu received her MD (1990) from Shandong Medical University and her PhD (1997) in Immunology from Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences where she served as Assistant Professor, Cancer Biotherapy Center from 1997-98. Prior to joining the DICBR, Dr. Liu was a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, MCV/VCU. During her current appointment, Dr. Liu will conduct research on the effects of ethanol and cannabinoids on vascular endothelial function. She will continue to investigate promising preliminary findings on the ability of ethanol to activate anti-apoptotic signaling in cultured vascular endothelial cells, which may be one of the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of moderate ethanol consumption in ischemic heart disease.

Fushan Wang, Ph.D., was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (9/01/00 - 8/31/02). Dr. Wang received his DSc (1995) in Virology & Molecular Biology from the Institute of Virology, Wuhan University, and holds a MS (1988) and BS (1985) in Genetics from Sichuan University, PRC. Dr. Wang has held post-doctoral fellowships in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Beijing Medical University, the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania and most recently in the Department of Dermatology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia PA, where his research focused on adenovirus-mediated skin gene therapy. Under the mentorship of Dr. Gao, Dr. Wang's research will focus on critical cytokines in liver diseases, not only in an effort to understand the molecular mechanism involved in alcoholic liver diseases, but also to look for therapeutic potential in alcohol-related disorders.

Lei Wang, M.D., was appointed as a part-time Research Fellow (Visiting Program) (8/16/00 - 8/15/01). Dr. Wang received his M.D. (1990) from Shandong Medical University, Jinan Shandong, PRC. He performed his residency (1990-95) in the Department of Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital where he later became Physician-in-Charge of the department (1995-98). Prior to joining the DICBR, Dr. Wang was a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, MCV/VCU, where he conducted research on the regulation of hypotension and food intake by cannabinoid receptor. Preliminary findings indicate that endocannabinoids in the hypothalamus are part of the leptin-regulated circuitry that controls food intake. During his current appointment, Dr. Wang will conduct studies in rats and mice to explore the role of endocannabinoids in the central neural control of food and ethanol intake.

Other DICBR Term Appointments

James M. Bjork, Ph.D., was appointed as a Post-Doctoral IRTA Fellow (7/31/00 - 7/30/02) in the Laboratory of Clinical Studies, Section on Brain Electrophysiology & Imaging. Dr. Bjork received his Ph.D. (1999) in Neurosciences from the University of Texas-Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS). He received his BA (Cum Laude) in Biology & Music from St. Olaf College, Northfield MN, in 1990. From 1994-99, Dr. Bjork served as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center. Prior to joining the LCS, Dr. Bjork served as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Harris County Psychiatric Center, Houston. Honors received by Dr. Bjork include the Texas RSA John P. McGovern Award (1997), Special Commendation (1997) and Presidential Fellowship Award (1998) from the Presidential Scholar Review Committee of past & current GSBS faculty presidents, and the RSA Student Merit Award (1999). In addition to numerous meeting abstracts and presentations, Dr. Bjork's bibliography cites 18 published or in press articles, 7 on which he is the principal author. While with LCS, Dr. Bjork will receive training in the use of functional MR imaging. This will allow him to use the cognitive methods he has developed to study impulsive and aggressive behavior among adolescent alcoholics in an imaging setting. His goal will be to study the functional neuroanatomy of impulsive and risk taking behavior.

Pascale V. Guillot, Ph.D., was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (6/05/00 - 6/04/02) in the Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Section of Human Neurogenetics. Dr. Guillot received her Ph.D. (1995) in Neuroscience from Sorbonne University, Paris. She also received a MA in Psychology (Psychophysiology specialty) and MSc in Neuroscience from the same institution in 1992. Dr. Guillot served as a Research Fellow in Genetics (1996-97) under the supervision of Dr. Mary Lyon, Harwell UK, where she worked on a project to map and characterize mouse mutants arising in mutagenesis experiments, particularly potential models of human diseases. From 1998-2000 she served first as a Research Fellow in Vascular Biology, Harvard Medical School, where she studied transcription regulation of endothelial cell-specific genes using in vitro approach and transgenic mice analysis, followed by an appointment in Immunology were her focus was to study the basis of type I diabetes autoimmune disease. While with LNG, Dr. Guillot will receive training in high throughput SNP detection and genotyping, statistical methods for mapping via linkage disequilibrium, and potentially in vitro functional analyses of candidate alleles. She will apply this training to follow-up studies on LNG's recently reported haplotype association of the Y-chromosome to antisocial behavior and alcoholism. She may also pursue parallel Y-chromosome gene/behavior studies using mouse and primate (rhesus macaque) genetic resources available within the laboratory.

Sam Zakhari, Ph.D., Director, Division of Basic Research is the recipient of the 13th Annual Research Society on Alcoholism's Seixas Award for Service. Dr. Zakhari was presented with this prestigious award during the annual RSA meeting in Denver, Colorado, June 24-29.

Dr. Norman Salem Jr., Chief, LMBB, and former Acting Scientific Director, NIAAA, was elected Vice-President of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) for the term March 2000 - 2003. ISSFAL is an international society of scientists, health professionals, administrators, educators and communicators from more than 40 countries, all with an interest in the health effects of dietary fats. Established in March 1991 by Alexander Leaf, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, the purpose of the Society is to increase understanding through research and education of the role of dietary fatty acids and lipids in health and disease.

Jan Howard, Ph.D., Chief, Prevention Research Branch, Division of Clinical and Prevention Research, received a Lifetime Achievement Award on June 6, 2000, from the National Prevention Network (NPN). This award, which was announced at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD)and NPN, honors and recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions and provided exemplary service to the field of substance abuse prevention over their career. The award to Dr. Howard states that it is "For outstanding accomplishment in the field of substance abuse prevention research."

Gayle Boyd, Ph.D., Prevention Research Branch, Division of Clinical and Prevention Research received an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving "in appreciation for dedicated service as a member of MADD's College Commission addressing the impact of alcohol on America's College Campuses." The award was received in June 2000.




Last reviewed: May 2008
Posted: October 19, 2000

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