CONTENTS

 I. BUDGET UPDATE

There has been no Congressional action to date on NIH/NIAAA's FY 2002 President's Budget Request. The House Appropriations Subcommittee is tentatively scheduled to mark-up on September 24. The Senate Subcommittee has not yet scheduled a mark-up. It is expected that NIH/NIAAA will begin FY 2002 with a Continuing Resolution at the current rate, that is, the FY 2001 level.

Below is a synopsis of the FY 2002 President's Budget.

The FY 2002 President's Budget request for NIAAA is $382.0 million, a 12.2 percent increase over the FY 2001 level of $340.5 million. Included in the request is $24.4 million for HIV/AIDS research.

Research Project Grants - In the FY 2002 President's request, the Institute plans to support approximately 202 competing research project grants and fund approximately 37 percent of approved applications. The request would provide average cost increases equal to the Biomedical Research and Development Price Index (BRDPI), estimated at 4.3 percent. Noncompeting grant costs would be paid at committed levels.

Alcohol Research Centers - The FY 2002 request for the research centers program would support 15 research centers at $26.1 million.

Other Research - The request would provide $10.1 million to support 80 research career awards; $12.0 million for Cooperative agreements; and $4.5 million for Other Research Related Grants.

Research Training - The request would provide $9.5 million for 265 full-time training positions. and a 10 percent increase for stipends and other training-related expenses (e.g. health insurance, research supplies and equipment, and travel to scientific meetings).

Research and Development Contracts - The President's Budget would provide $33.2 million for 40 research and development contracts.

In-House Activities - The FY 2002 President's request, would provide $36.3 million for the Institute's Intramural Research Program; and $19.3 million for Research Management and Support activities.

II. WEB HIGHLIGHTS

(https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916110429/http://www.niaaa.nih.gov)

NIAAA opened its newly designed Website in March. The new design makes better use of screen space and features enhancements such as drop down menus and a highlights section. The new sections include a graphics gallery of photos and illustrations that can be downloaded, an expanded section on the Intramural Research program, and a Spanish language publications section. Since the last Director's Report, more full-text publications have been added to the Website. In addition, the graphics contained in the graphics gallery have been reformatted into .PDF files which can be more easily downloaded. In addition, a support contract to provide usability testing of the newly designed Website will be awarded by the end of the fiscal year.

The NIH Director is beginning a nationwide Call for 2002 COPR Applications. Dr. Kirschstein would greatly appreciate your efforts in distributing the application to as many diverse groups as possible. The primary roles of the NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) are:

• to bring public views to NIH activities, programs and decision-making;
• to convey information about NIH's processes and progress to an even broader public outside the Agency; and
• to look at NIH operations and help the Agency evaluate performance. This group has the potential to have a significant impact upon how NIH operates and makes decisions across a broad spectrum of activities and programs.

The COPR offers a public forum for discussing such key NIH issues as priority setting, clinical trials and managed care, privacy and genetics, and health disparities among various populations. COPR members will review and advise on NIH priorities and mechanisms for public input to NIH decisions. The COPR application deadline is OCTOBER 23rd, 2001. Applicants will be notified by December 2001 and the term will begin April 1, 2002.

IV. NIAAA ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS

Under the continued supervision of Stephen Long, and with assistance from members of the Division of Clinical and Prevention Research (DCPR) and Division of Biometry and Epidemiology (DBE), OPLPL is proceeding with a variety of projects related to the Subcommittee on College Drinking. These projects include:

• Subcommittee Report: Under the management of Stephen Long and Fred Donodeo, the Subcommittee report is in the final draft stage. Vivian Faden (DBE) and Gayle Boyd (DCPR) are managing an identical process for the individual panel reports as well as preparing a series of commissioned papers for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

• Brochures: Fred Donodeo and Stephen Long are also supervising the development of brochures that will highlight the findings of the Subcommittee for specific audiences. Presently, individual brochures are being developed for college presidents, parents, community leaders, high school guidance counselors, and student peer educators.

• College Staff Handbook: Under the supervision of Fred Donodeo, a handbook for college program staff is being developed by two respected researchers who have been active in the Subcommittee since its inception. The handbook is currently in its final stages.

• Media Relations/Press Conference: Under the leadership of Geoffrey Laredo and Ann Bradley, preparations are being made for a comprehensive, highly-visible unveiling of the Subcommittee report and its related messages.

• Website: Amy Matush and Fred Donodeo are managing a contract with a professional web design firm to design and manage the college drinking web page. Numerous proposals have been received by NIAAA, and a final selection process is now underway.

• Presentations at National Meetings: Amy Matush has been in constant contact with a variety of agencies and organizations that focus on college students to arrange for presentations of the Subcommittee's conclusions and recommendations at their annual meetings. A list of confirmed meetings will be added to the college Website.

• Regional Workshop: Fred Donodeo, Amy Matush, and Stephen Long are working with selected colleges to develop and manage regional workshops designed to bring the results of the Subcommittee to presidents and their senior staffs. The limited meeting size and the geographical similarities of the schools are designed to encourage candid discussion, leading to possible joint planning.

For more details concerning the Subcommittee on College Drinking, please visit our Website at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916110429/http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/

Since the June Council meeting, the initiative has continued to make progress in a number of areas:

• With the addition of Texas, Minnesota, and Nevada, thirty-three Governors' spouses are currently participating in the initiative. The additions are First Lady Anita Perry of Texas, First Lady Terry Ventura of Minnesota, and First Lady Dema Guinn of Nevada.

• The Leadership initiative's newest publication, Keep Kids Alcohol Free: Strategies for Action, is now available in multiple copies. This 17-page booklet is an easy-to-use introduction to three basic prevention strategies with information about how these strategies can be put into practice in the home, school, and community. It also offers a wealth of on-line resources and State contacts. The Spanish translation of this booklet will be completed by October. Council members may request that copies be sent to other organizations by contacting leadership@alcoholfreechildren.org.

• The Spanish version of the initiative's statistical brochure, How Does Alcohol Affect the World of A Child?, is being updated and will be available shortly.

• The Leadership initiative's own Website will be launched at the end of September. This site is intended to be a central resource of information for the prevention of alcohol use by the 9- to 15-year-old age group, as well as a site of information about Leadership initiative activities.

• Among many initiative-related activities undertaken by the Governors' spouses during the summer, two of the First Ladies addressed national conferences. North Dakota First Lady Mikey Hoeven addressed the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) national conference on July 14 in Arlington, Virginia. California First Lady Sharon Davis launched her participation in the Leadership initiative by addressing the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) National Youth Diversity Summit on Traffic Safety in Los Angeles on July 27. On September 10, two of the Leadership First Ladies, Patricia Kempthorne of Idaho and Mary Easley of North Carolina, addressed the national meeting of the National Prevention Network (NPN) meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. The keynote address by Mrs. Kempthorne on the first day of the NPN, and the luncheon address by Mrs. Easley were highlights of the NPN conference. Both of the First Ladies called for a greater emphasis upon alcohol issues on the national agenda.

• The Governors' Spouses will host the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free - Second National Conference on January 10-11, 2002, in Washington, D.C. The morning session on Thursday, January 10, will be devoted to presentations of research findings on children and alcohol, and ABC News Commentator Jack Ford will host a Fred Friendly Roundtable on Underage Drinking during the afternoon session. Friday's sessions will offer concurrent sessions under the heading "What We Know and How You Can Use It." Topics under consideration include states' best practices; media literacy and advocacy; working with the media and the entertainment industry; survey data and public attitudes; parents, schools, and prevention; and facilitating coalition building.

• NIAAA staff met with The Pew Charitable Trusts to explore avenues of collaboration with respect to the Leadership initiative as well as other possible projects. A meeting with The Ford Foundation to consider a similar partnership is now pending.

V. OFFICE AND DIVISION ACTIVITIES

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

Dr. Enoch Gordis, NIAAA Director since 1986, has announced his intention to "step down" from his position as Director, NIAAA, at the end of December 20001. In his communication to NIAAA staff, Dr. Gordis stated that the decision was not easy, further noting that his 15 years with the Institute have been "the most rewarding of my entire career."

Dr. Gordis' activities since the June Council meeting have included the following:

Dr. Dufour's activities since the June Council meeting have included the following:

• Co-chaired a satellite symposium on the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Alcoholic Hepatitis at the annual RSA meeting.

• Provided welcome and outline of objectives for a meeting jointly sponsored and co-funded by NIAAA, the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and the NIH Office of Rare Diseases, to consider whether maternal alcohol exposure may be a factor in infant mortality/sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The meeting was held August 6-7 in Bethesda, Maryland.

• Along with Daniel Hommer, M.D, Acting Chief Laboratory of Clinical Studies, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR), Alan Leshner, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and J. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., Director, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), Dr. Dufour participated in a 1-hour Webcast on "The Science of Addiction" that aired September 12 at 7:00 p.m. (EDT) at www.health.org/recoverymonth/2001. Hosted by Dennis Wholey of the PBS program This is America with Dennis Wholey, the Webcast focused on mechanisms of addiction, findings from treatment research, and the transfer of research results into clinical practice . The broadcast was one of two CSAT-produced Webcasts to observe the 12th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (September 2001).

OFFICE OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH

The mission of the Office of Collaborative Research (OCR) is to: (a) foster collaborative activities with other NIH Institutes, governmental agencies, and other organizations interested in alcohol research; (b) provide momentum and guidance to projects in collaboration with appropriate program administrators or subject matter experts in other NIAAA offices or divisions; (c) coordinate and administer collaborative international research programs and scientific exchanges; (d) develop and coordinate science education projects and initiatives, and administer the National Research Centers, Institutional Training Grants and AIDS Programs.

• On March 13-14, the ICCFAS and the Office of Research on Women's Health cosponsored a workshop entitled The Identification and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders Among Women of Childbearing Age. Participants identified critical gaps in knowledge concerning effective approaches to treatment for women of reproductive age with alcohol use disorders and recommended priorities for future research. The group recommended: 1) examining effective approaches to the treatment of pregnant women, including a comparison of the efficacy of specialized programs for pregnant women and non-specialized programs which enroll pregnant women; 2) comparing the relative efficacy of single gender and mixed gender treatment programs; 3) expanding research on the use of brief interventions with women, with special emphasis on identifying ways to increase health care providers' awareness and commitment to screening and intervening with women of childbearing age; 4) investigating effective approaches to identifying and treating co-existing mental health disorders among women; and 5) identifying methods to improve referral processes, including the development of standardized criteria for referral to specialized alcohol treatment and exploration of innovative approaches to improving patient compliance.

• In February, the Work Group on FAS/ARND, a subcommittee of the ICCFAS chaired by the Department of Education, sponsored a workshop at a national meeting of educators. Among other topics, participants discussed: alternative models for screening and referring children in early education and child care settings; the need for national standards for determining eligibility criteria for specialized education services for children with developmental disabilities; and community approaches to strengthening advocacy for children and families affected by fetal alcohol exposure.

• The National Task Force on FAS and the ICCFAS will convene a joint meeting on December 10-11, 2001 to exchange information and to identify areas for future collaboration.

To increase the research-based knowledge of social workers in all areas of practice, including direct work with alcohol patients, NIAAA devised a faculty development initiative to prepare faculty in Schools of Social work to teach their students about alcohol problems. "Social Work Education for the Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders" is a one and a half-day training session that will be held on September 21-22, 2001, in Washington, DC. This course will be taught by social work faculty from the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee), the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the University of Washington, and NIAAA. It will focus on the early identification, assessment, intervention and prevention of alcohol problems in client populations. NIAAA expects to draw participants from faculty at schools of social work in the Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania.

Sept 7, 2001: Dr. Kendall Bryant participated in a conference on stigma where he summarized the discussion of alcoholism and stigma subgroup for a national and international audience. In his summary, DR. Bryant highlighted: similarities/differences to other stigmatizing conditions, such as cleft palate or AIDS; pressing research topics for this condition; methods for conducting such research; research outcomes; and policy implications. The conference proceedings can be viewed on the Web at www.stigmaconference.nih.gov.

A meeting jointly sponsored and co-funded by NIAAA, NICHD and the NIH Office of Rare Diseases, was convened by OCR on August 6-7 to consider whether maternal alcohol exposure may be a factor in infant mortality/sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This idea arose during consideration of findings from the Aberdeen Area Infant Mortality study (AAIMS). Researchers studying infant mortality among Native Americans in the Aberdeen area of North and South Dakota noted a rate of SIDS in this population that was five times the national average. Native Americans in the Aberdeen area also have high levels of alcohol abuse. Workshop participants from the United States and South Africa took the first steps toward developing research strategies to learn if there is a link between prenatal alcohol exposure and SIDS by discussing their current work and findings. Human and animal studies point to possible neuropathological and physiological mechanisms underlying both SIDS and FAS. Several areas of interest to both alcohol and SIDS researchers were identified, and it is hoped that collaborative studies will be initiated.

Peggy Murray led a team of medical school faculty from the United States to Bloemfontein, South Africa September 9-15 to conduct a course on identifying and treating alcohol-use disorders in primary care settings. This course was organized by Professor ST Rataemane, University of the Free State. Course participants were faculty from medical and nursing schools that represented every province of South Africa. U.S. experts included Henrietta Barnes, M.D., Harvard University School of Medicine (Course director); Jeffery Samet, M.D., M.P.H., Boston University School of Medicine; Karlon Johnson, M.D., Charles R. Drew School of Medicine; Lorean Siqueira, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine; and Karen Starr, MSN, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Dr. Faye Calhoun, Director, OCR and Dr. Kenneth R. Warren, Director of the Office of Scientific Affairs, participated in a research meeting designed to further enhance international collaborative research on FAS. Two prominent investigators in FAS research, Dr. Ed Riley from San Diego State University and Dr. Consuelo Guerri from Valencia served as the co-chairs of the meeting that was held September 9 through 13 in Valencia, Spain. The meeting was hosted and supported in part by the Direccion General de Drodadependenias, Generalitat Valenciana. Workshop attendees were researchers from Africa, South America, the United States and several European countries including Spain, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Turkey. These investigators were either currently involved in international collaborative research or were identified as having the potential to contribute to such efforts. An earlier workshop designed to foster collaboration between U.S. and European FAS investigators had been held in France in 1996 under the sponsorship of a private foundation. The workshop in Valencia had the goal of continuing efforts initiated in the 1996 meeting and broadening the range of collaborations by including African and South American investigators.

On September 11, representatives from the Office of Collaborative Research met with Haitian health officials participating in the U.S. Department of State International Visitors' Program to discuss strategies that have been implemented in the U.S. and Haiti to address HIV/AIDS. The group identified a number of opportunities for collaborative research, including the need to develop innovative approaches to service delivery in isolated and impoverished rural populations.

OFFICE OF POLICY, LEGISLATION, AND PUBLIC LIAISON

OPLPL serves as the Institute connection to the NIH Offices of Public Liaison (OPL) Committee, as well as the Public Liaison Working Group that sets the agenda for the larger committee. The OPL Committee provides an avenue for information sharing, problem solving, and idea generation around issues relevant to OPLs across NIH. This group also is responsible for much of the information contained in NIH's OPL Bulletin which is distributed electronically to more than 300 NIH Director's Council of Public Representatives (COPR) Associates and Members across the country, as well as other interested members of the public.

This past August, NIAAA, through the Office of Policy, Legislation, and Public Liaison (OPLPL) was part of a small team of Institutes that planned a two-day strategy session for all of NIH's Public Liaison Officers. This session resulted in the establishment of a number of workgroups to address NIH outreach topics such as regional meetings and special populations.

OPLPL is responsible for liaison activities as they relate to Council meetings (and associated "liaison group meetings"). Currently, over 500 outside groups comprise our contact list, and we share information on a regular basis. Liaison representatives meet informally with NIAAA Director Dr. Enoch Gordis and senior staff following the adjournment of Council meetings. In addition to liaison activities NIAAA maintains a program of specific, formal collaborations with outside groups. In addition, NIAAA implements an annual plan of specific, formal collaborations with outside groups. Examples of recent and future collaborations include:

In response to a number of requests from the membership of NASADAD, NIAAA sponsored a pre-conference workshop addressing research findings on naltrexone. NASADAD members, the Single State Agencies (SSAs), are responsible for providing a broad range of alcohol and drug prevention and treatment services throughout their states and communities. The half-day workshop, which was organized by Public Liaison Officer Kelly Green Kahn, focused on the clinical application of naltrexone and the future of acamprosate as a component of alcoholism treatment. Utilization and formulary issues of interest to the State Directors were also addressed. Counselors, social workers, and other providers were also in attendance.

American Psychological Society:

As part of its Alcohol Research to Practice Network, OPLPL, under the supervision of Amy Matush, Fred Donodeo, and PMI Hal Zawacki, sponsored a one-day symposium, entitled "Adolescents and Alcohol: New Knowledge, New Challenges'" at the annual conference of the American Psychological Society in June. Moderated by Dr. Sandra Brown, UC San Diego, the symposium featured presentations by some of the leading investigators in this emerging field as well as a summary of NIAAA's related extramural research portfolio by Dr. Cherry Lowman, DCPR and Dr. Ellen Witt, DBR. Sessions covered topics that included effects of alcohol on biological, cognitive, and social functioning in adolescence; dimensions of developmentally and contextually appropriate interventions; and establishing a transdisciplinary perspective for future research.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: OPLPL assisted NIAAA's Prevention Research Branch by supporting the attendance of three alcohol researchers at an IIHS workshop focusing on issues around Low Blood Alcohol Concentration.

American Psychological Association: NIAAA sponsored several activities at the 2001 APA Convention. They included a pre-conference workshop on NIAAA research initiatives and technical assistance on preparing grant applications; conference presentations by Dr. James Prochaska ("Population Treatments for Addictions") and Dr. Deborah Yurgelun-Todd ("Developmental Changes in Frontal Amygdala Response: Substance Abuse Treatment Implications"); and a symposium entitled "Medications for Alcohol Problems: They Work, But Who Uses Them? (Chair: Harold Perl, Ph.D., presentations from Dr. Stephanie O'Malley, Ms. Sherrie Gillette, Dr. Barbara Mason, and Dr. Stanley Wallack)

Delaware Research Symposium: NIAAA sponsored a full-day research-to-practice symposium on the campus of the University of Delaware for the Delaware Health and Social Services and DC/Delaware Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC). This workshop, titled "Harnessing Science to Transform Lives: Act I-Alcoholism" focused on the use of medications as part of a balanced approach to alcoholism treatment and addressed research implications and their potential applications in clinical settings. Counselors, social workers, and other providers attended. This topical focus is the result of Delaware's specific request and the event was organized by Kelly Green Kahn.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving: For the third year in a row, NIAAA sponsored a very successful research symposium as part of MADD's annual conference (Dallas, Texas, 9/6/01). Over 200 people attended the half-day forum, which featured three NIAAA-funded researchers. Topics addressed included motivational intervention for alcohol abuse among adolescents (Dr. Jonathan Tubman, Florida International University); understanding and intervening with young adults who drink and drive (Dr. Jean Shope, University of Michigan); and college drinking prevention (Dr. Ralph Hingson, Boston University School of Public Health). OPLPL Director Geoff Laredo also provided some brief opening remarks. The Institute and MADD intend to continue this symposium series at future conferences.

Join Together: NIAAA will cosponsor a three-day conference with the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Demand Treatment! Leadership Institute II is convened by Join Together for the 20 communities selected to participate in their Demand Treatment! Community Partners Project, and Fighting Back Initiative. The Institute will have a large focus on implementing community strategies for screenings, brief interventions, and other forms of alcohol and other drug abuse treatment, including a full day extended workshop for physicians. The sessions will also highlight the underlying linkages between alcohol abuse, addiction, and other illnesses and medical conditions, and increase participants' knowledge about addiction as a chronic treatable medical condition.

Demand Treatment! is a nationwide project organized by Join Together to increase the number of people who get alcohol and drug screenings, brief interventions, and quality treatment in American communities. The initiative is based on the belief that the first step to increasing treatment is to get consumers, family members, and key leaders to take steps to recognize the magnitude of the demand. As we have seen in numerous examples in society, when demand goes up, increased supply follows.

National Drug Prevention League: NIAAA will host a meeting of the NDPL which will focus on alcohol abuse and alcoholism issues. The League, a collaboration of several groups in our field, is increasing its focus on alcohol issues. NIAAA will provide information and background on Institute programs and alcohol research in general.

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State: As part of the Institute's continuing efforts to move research into practice, NIAAA will cosponsor the annual conference of the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State (ASAP), Saratoga Springs, New York, 10/21-24. The conference is designed for the entire range of professionals working in and allied to the alcohol research, prevention, and treatment field and is an important part of the ongoing partnership between NIAAA, New York State, ASAP, and CSAT. NIAAA's Geoff Laredo will be part of a plenary panel addressing "Practice Improvement: Bridging the Gap Between Practice and Research." Also, Dr. Mike Hilton, DCPR will help lead a session on Practice Improvement.

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America: As in past years, NIAAA will sponsor a number of workshops as part of CADCA's 2001 Leadership Forum. This year's theme is "Coalitions: Linking Science, Practice and Spirit...to Build Healthy Communities."

American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry: NIAAA will again assist the AAAP through support of addiction psychiatry residents' attendance at their annual meeting.

Since the June National Advisory Council meeting, NIAAA has issued the following news releases and advisories:

Sunday, August 19, at 10:00 PM (EST) CNN Presents aired "Wasted," a one-hour exploration of new (as represented in NIAAA's COMBINE clinical trial) and traditional treatment for alcoholism. Combine is testing proven behavioral treatments and two pharmacologic agents (naltrexone and acamprosate) in various combinations.

Ray Anton, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina, COMBINE Principal Investigator and Chairperson, COMBINE Steering Committee, was featured in "Wasted" and on the 5:30 p.m. CNN newscast that preceded it. NIAAA Director Enoch Gordis, M.D., NIAAA intramural Laboratory of Neurogenetics Chief David Goldman, M.D., and NIAAA intramural Laboratory of Clinical Studies Acting Chief Daniel Hommer, M.D., also were featured in interviews on etiology, mechanisms, and treatments for alcoholism.

"Wasted" compared the experience of Megan, a COMBINE patient who received an undisclosed treatment from among those being tested, with the experience of a patient in an Atlanta, Georgia-based private treatment program that uses no pharmacologic treatment. Patients in both programs participate in 12-Step mutual-help programs.

"Wasted" raised awareness of alcoholism treatment research in an audience of approximately 400,000 and an even larger number who visited the CNN web site (www.cnn.com), which was linked to both the NIAAA and NIH clinical trials sites (https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916110429/http://clinicaltrials.gov). Online graphics and video galleries remain available in CNN's online archives.

NIAAA press officer Ann Bradley coordinated Institute involvement and assistance to this effort, and has tapes of the program available for loan.

Consistent with NIAAA's focus on disseminating alcohol research findings to general audiences through the media, OPLPL presented Bruce Dan, M.D., former JAMA senior editor and current consultant to PBS HealthWatch, at the annual RSA meeting. Dr. Dan provided media training to a total of 75 RSA members in four general and individual videotape feedback sessions.

OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS

• NIAAA SBIR/STTR contract solicitations have been posted on the NIH Website.  Information and instructions are also available at this Website address. Proposal receipt date is November 9, 2001. NIAAA is required to reserve 2.5 percent of its extramural budget for SBIR and 0.15 percent of its extramural budget for STTR.

• Progress is being made in NIAAA's DARPA-like initiatives (see February 8, 2001 Director's report at https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080916110429/http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/about/Director2-01.htm):

• A Program Manager is being recruited for a possible geospatial initiative.

• Future planning exercises are scheduled for medication development, alcohol and violence, and gene-environment interactions.

• A feasibility evaluation is being conducted for the NIAAA Center's Program.

• NIAAA has established a Data and Safety Monitoring Committee, chaired by Dr. Michael Eckardt. This Committee reviews funded clinical trials (Phase I, II, or III) for the adequacy of an investigator-supplied data and safety monitoring plan.

Gunzerath L, Connelly B, Albert P, Knebel A. (2001). Relationship of personality traits and coping strategies to quality of life in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Psychology, Health and Medicine, Vol 6, Number 3, pages 335 - 341.

• For this review round, Extramural Project Review Branch Staff completed 18 review meetings to evaluate a total of 178 grant applications, and 3 review meetings to evaluate a total of 14 contract proposals. Reviews completed include the following:

The remaining 87 grant applications were not submitted in response to a special initiative and were reviewed in the Institute's standing review sub-committees, or special emphasis panels.

Scientific Communications Branch

The AR&H issue on violence, jointly produced with the National Institute of Justice, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, has been printed and disseminated. Two issues have been sent to the printers: chronobiology and alcohol-related birth defects. Work continues on issues focusing on prevention, disease interactions, women, and epidemiology.

The Alcohol Alert issue, "Alcohol and Transportation Safety," has been printed and disseminated. Another issue, "Cognitive Impairment and Recovery from Alcoholism," has been sent to the printers. Work has begun on the next Alert which will focus on craving and relapse.

• Both the English and Spanish versions of the public education booklet, Alcoholism: Getting the Facts, have been updated and reprinted. Two other publications have been updated and reprinted: Drinking and Your Pregnancy and How to Cut Down on Your Drinking.

• The online version of the popular "Frequently Asked Questions" has been developed into a booklet for those without access to the Website. The text has been updated and edited to make it more understandable for low literacy audiences. Work has begun on adapting the text for Hispanic audiences.

• A new public education pamphlet targeting women has been drafted. The booklet and a companion video is being produced in collaboration with the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health. Pre-production work on the video has begun, including preliminary interviews with women who will appear in the video. Filming is scheduled for the end of September/early October.

• The Physician's Guide to Helping Patients with Alcohol Problems and its companion public education brochure, How to Cut Down on Your Drinking, are being updated and revised. A support contract to design the brochures will be awarded by the end of the fiscal year.

• Work continues on developing a compendium of published articles based on the 1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiological Survey (NLAES).

As reported in the previous Director's Report, NIAAA, in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has developed two television and two radio public service announcements (PSAs) on underage drinking. On September 26, NIAAA and SAMHSA will host a meeting of constituency groups to elicit ideas about the most effective ways to disseminate these PSAs through constituency organizations' networks. The meeting is being held at the Natcher Center on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

A number of collateral materials are being developed. Three posters targeting 11 to 13 year olds have been designed and tested in focus groups held in Baltimore, Maryland and Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, several banner ads for Websites have been developed and also are being pre-tested.

A feasibility study to assess the need for a National Clearinghouse on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was completed. The feasibility study consisted of conducting nine in-depth interviews and a telephone focus group with stakeholders representing organizations associated with FAS. In addition, a complete review of all existing FAS resources was conducted which resulted in a list of available publications and materials. When possible, copies of the materials were obtained. The findings from the feasibility study are being reviewed to determine the next steps. The outcome of these evaluations will be presented at a future Council meeting.

DIVISION OF BASIC RESEARCH

The following staff participated in the Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Montreal, Quebec Canada:

• Dr. Laurie Foudin conducted a satellite workshop, "Detection of Prenatal Fetal Alcohol Exposure." The workshop, which was co-funded by the NIH Office of Rare Diseases, presented and discussed new approaches for developing potential biomarkers for prenatal or neonatal screening.

• Dr. Foudin also led the discussion session on Small Business Innovation Research at a workshop on grantsmanship.

• Dr. Diane Lucas participated in a Satellite Symposium on "New Aspects of Immunomodulation by Alcohol," The one-day session focused on cutting edge research and featured experts in the areas of innate and acquired immunity, molecular mechanisms of alcohol-induced immune dysregulation, and immune-mediated organ damage. Dr. Lucas discussed emerging research opportunities in alcohol, host defense, and immunosuppression. For further information, contact Dr. Lucas at 301-443-8744 or at dlucas@nih.gov.

• Dr. Vishnudutt Purohit organized a satellite symposium on the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Alcoholic Hepatitis. The main focus of the symposium was to discuss the mechanisms by which: 1) activated Kupffer cells trigger inflammatory cascade; 2) inflammatory cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes) get activated, penetrate sinusoidal endothelial cell lining, and reach hepatic parenchyma; 3) inflammatory cells damage hepatocytes; and 4) hepatocytes damage themselves. The symposium, which was sponsored by the NIAAA and the NIH Office of Rare Diseases, was chaired by Dr. Denise Russo, Chief, Biomedical Research Branch, DBR, and NIAAA Deputy Director, Dr. Mary Dufour. DBR Director, Dr. Sam Zakhari, opened the meeting and chaired a session. Distinguished speakers from England, Australia, Hong Kong, and USA also participated in the symposium. Proceedings will be published in the near future.

• Dr. Zakhari presented two lectures on "Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System."

• Dr. Ellen Witt gave a talk on Program Initiatives on Adolescents at the NIAAA sponsored Symposium, "Adolescents and Alcohol Abuse: New Knowledge, New Challenges," American Psychological Society, Toronto, Canada, June 14, 2001.

• Drs. Antonio Noronha and Robert Karp have organized a Symposium on Neurogenetics of Alcoholism, which will be a satellite event of the Society for Neuroscience meetings in San Diego, CA.. This symposium, which will be held on November 10, 2001, will feature talks covering the full range of NIAAA supported genetic research, from invertebrates to humans, illustrating how genetic analyses are contributing to our understanding of the mechanisms of alcohol's effects on nervous system function and behavior.

• NIAAA will sponsor a series of presentations at the fourth annual community health forum, Share the Health: An Exposition of Health Resources from NIH to Its Neighbors. Dr. Dennis Twombly, DBR, will present a 40-min lecture on Alcohol and the Brain, as well as his novel exhibit "The Drunken Brain" at this forum. Using a giant brain model constructed from chicken wire and flashing lights, Dr. Twombly will explain how alcohol-induced changes in cell function result in altered brain communication, motor performance, sensory perception, and cognition, and how these changes can lead to tolerance and dependence. A simulated experiment will be conducted to test what happens to brain cell activity as the brain becomes intoxicated. Visitors will also have an opportunity to navigate an obstacle course while wearing vision-distorting prism goggles. The goggles are designed to approximate the loss of motor coordination that occurs as a consequence of alcohol ingestion. Ms. Donna Perry, Scientific Communications Branch, will host an exhibit featuring a Breathalyzer. Visitors will be invited to blow into the Breathalyzer after using mouthwash or other household substances to measure their "hypothetical" BAL or Blood Alcohol Level. The BAL reading will be compared to a chart that will give corresponding physical symptoms of impairment and risk for accidents. NIAAA-sponsored literature on alcohol abuse and alcoholism will be available at the booth.

• Dr. Vishnudutt Purohit organized a symposium on the Role of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) in the Treatment of Alcoholic Liver Disease. The symposium was held on September 7 in Bethesda, Maryland. The main purpose of the symposium was to discuss the mechanisms by which SAMe treatment attenuates alcohol-induced oxidant stress in the liver and associated liver injury, and the feasibility of using SAMe for human trials. The symposium was sponsored by the NIAAA and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Distinguished speakers from Italy, Spain, and the USA participated in the symposium which was opened by NIAAA Director Dr. Enoch Gordis and ODS Director, Dr. Paul Coates. Dr. Purohit presented the introduction of the symposium, the sessions were chaired by Dr. Sam Zakhari and Dr. Denise Russo and the discussion was presented by Dr. William Lands, NIAAA Senior Scientific Advisor. The proceedings of the symposium will be published in the near future.

DIVISION OF BIOMETRY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

A contract has been awarded to The CDM Group, Inc. to establish and operate an Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) to provide accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information on alcohol policies adopted by governments at the State and Federal levels in the United States. The APIS will be of primary use to researchers seeking to study the effects of alcohol policies, either singly or in combinations. This resource will promote advances in scientific research on the effects and effectiveness of various alcohol-related policies - research that has been constrained by the limited availability and quality of data on the type and content of policies that have been adopted in various jurisdictions.

The main product of this contract will be a web site providing user-searchable access to information on alcohol policies in several formats and at several levels of detail, up to and including the full text of the laws and regulations themselves. Secondary products include an electronic newsletter reporting recent developments in alcohol policy, special reports on policy-related issues, and technical assistance to scientists and other researchers conducting policy-related research.

Work to be conducted under this procurement includes:

The following poster, prepared by DBE staff and staff of the Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System (AEDS), was presented at the Research Society on Alcoholism Annual Meeting held in Montreal, Canada, June 23-28:

Yi, H., Stinson, F.S., Hanna, E.Z., and Dufour, M.C. Former drinkers: Past drinking levels and health conditions.

The following analytic report was submitted to NIAAA by AEDS:

Grant, B.F., Stinson, F.S., and Harford, T.C. Current Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorders among Respondents with Lifetime DSM-IV Alcohol Use Disorders in the General Population: A Comparison of Former Treated and Untreated Respondents by Gender.

Faden, Vivian B., Graubard, Barry L., Maternal substance use during pregnancy and developmental outcome at age three. J. Substance Abuse 12 (2000) 329-340.

Dr. Richard Fuller represented NIAAA at the American Psychiatric Association's Council on Addiction Psychiatry on September 7, 2001 in Washington, DC. He described a number of Institute initiatives and answered questions about NIAAA programs.

Drs. Bob Huebner and Cherry Lowman collaborated with NIAAA's OPLPL in the development of the NIAAA 2001 satellite symposium entitled "Adolescents and Alcohol Abuse: New Knowledge/New Challenges," held as part of the American Psychological Society annual meeting in Toronto on June 14. Dr. Lowman identified and invited NIAAA grantees to participate of the symposium. She also developed a handout for the symposium audience that summarized funding opportunities relevant to adolescents in four NIAAA research program areas (epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and health services research), and discussed three research needs that cut across these four areas (e.g., developmentally appropriate measures and interventions, social and cultural bases of health disparities, and projects that integrate basic and clinical constructs and models). Dr. Lowman also updated the NIAAA poster session on research opportunities in prevention, treatment, and health services research and answered questions at the APS 2001 NIAAA poster session.

In 1998, SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and NIAAA signed a five-year Interagency Agreement (IAG) to fund research on "Treatment for Adolescent Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism." The goal of this joint effort is to identify effective approaches to treatment for adolescent alcohol problems in diverse groups of adolescents. Fourteen research projects have been funded under the IAG. Ten of these projects are clinical studies and four are questionnaire and model development projects. In addition to continued funding of the research grants, a monograph on "Research on Treatment for Adolescent Alcohol Problems: Methodological Issues," has been approved, in principle, as a supplement to Addiction, pending peer review. Plans are also underway for a conference sponsored by CSAT and NIAAA, to be held at the conclusion of these research projects. The conference will bring together researchers from this joint research program with health services researchers and providers. The title of the conference, "Building Bridges between Research and Practice," will be designed to develop multiple perspectives on determining a process to use research experience and results in practice settings. Two monographs are planned to report findings from the conference: one will report conference results of interest to providers, program planners, and policymakers; the second monograph will report scientific results of the 14 adolescent treatment projects. This interagency collaboration has been rewarding for both agencies.

The goal of this Cooperative Agreement is to evaluate combinations of pharmacologic and behavioral interventions for the treatment of alcoholism. The pharmacologic agents being studied are naltrexone and acamprosate. The two behavioral therapies are Medication Management, a brief intervention designed to enhance compliance to medication and encourage drinking cessation, and Combined Behavioral Intervention, a moderate intensity intervention combining elements from cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and twelve-step facilitation therapy. The main trial began enrolling patients in January 2001.

As of September 9, 346 patients have been enrolled in the COMBINE clinical trial. Several instances of favorable national and local print and media publicity of the trial have occurred which has stimulated recruitment inquiries.

• Dr. Raye Litten presented a summary and future directions for the symposium entitled "Recommendations for Second Generation Clinical Trials: Using Acquired Knowledge and New Technologies".

• Dr. Litten also presented "Disulfiram: A Historical Perspective" for the symposium entitled "Low Utilization of Pharmacotherapy in Alcohol Dependence Treatment: Reasons and Solutions."

August 15, 2001: Dr. Raye Litten presented an overview on the recent advances in alcoholism treatment to the session entitled "Preparing Public Health Campaigns: International Visitor Project for Russia" in Bethesda, Maryland.

Allen, J. P., Litten, R.Z., Strid, N., and Sillanaukee, P. (2001). The role of biomarkers in Alcoholism medication trials. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 25: 1119-1125.

Bean, P. and Mattson, M.E. (2001). Combined Behavioral treatment of Behavioral and Pharmacologic Treatment of Alcoholism. American Clinical Laboratory 20(6):8-11.

July 25-26, 2001: Dr. Susan Martin chaired the Prevention Research Branch (PRB) working group entitled "Alcohol-Related Violence Intervention Research." The purpose of the working group meeting, which was held in Bethesda, Maryland, was to review current knowledge and identify future directions for the next generation of research to reduce alcohol-related violence.

• Dr. Susan Martin served as discussant on a symposium, "How Does Alcohol Contribute to Sexual Assault? Explanations from Laboratory and Survey Research."

• Dr. Martin also served as a table moderator on NIAAA funding opportunities at a roundtable luncheon and introduced the symposium, "Alcohol Advertising and Youth."

• Dr. Gayle Boyd chaired the symposium, "Translating Science into Action: The MADD Experience."

• Dr. Boyd chaired the symposium, "College Binge Drinking? What is it? Who does it?"

• June 20: Dr. Jan Howard participated in the steering committee meeting for the national Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPTs). The regional CAPTs, which are funded by SAMSHA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), advise the states, local governments, and prevention organizations on the comparative effectiveness of evidence-based preventive interventions. Dr. Howard summarized results from several NIAAA-funded community-based prevention trials including Northland I and II, Holder's community trial to prevent alcohol-related trauma, and Wagenaar's randomized community trial to prevent underage drinking. Dr. Howard also discussed current extensions of these studies in more diverse target areas.

• June 1-2: Dr. Susan Martin served as a table moderator on NIAAA funding opportunities at a roundtable luncheon at the annual meeting of the Society for Prevention Research in Washington, DC. At this same meeting, Dr. Martin presented a talk entitled, "Prevention Research: Priorities and Opportunities at NIAAA."

• August 15: Dr. Howard gave a special presentation at the quarterly meeting of the Prevention Roundtable titled, "Prevention Research Into Practice: Who Should Study the Practice?" The Prevention Roundtable is composed of representatives from federal agencies and institutes concerned with preventing problems from alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Dr. Howard discussed the fifth phase of research (Diffusion/Implementation/ Demonstration) contained in prevention research models of NIAAA, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and questioned whether, how, and to what extent studies of diffusion should be conducted by the research institutes or by the service agencies that conduct and evaluate demonstration projects.

Martin, Susan E. (2001) The Links Between Alcohol, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System: Explanations, Evidence, and Interventions. American Journal on Addictions 10:136-158.

Martin, Susan E., Kendall Bryant, & Nora Fitzgerald. (2001) Self-reported alcohol use and abuse by arrestees in the 1998 Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program. Alcohol Research and Health 25:72-79.

• On September 7, 2001 HSRB issued a Program Announcement "Cost Research on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (PA-01-137)". This replaces an earlier Program Announcement with the same title (PA 98-104), that has stimulated successful applications over the past three years. Like its predecessor, the new PA invites applications for all varieties of studies of the costs of alcohol treatment and prevention services. Included are cost analysis studies, cost effectiveness studies, cost benefit studies, and cost offset studies. Also encouraged are studies to improve the methods of estimating costs for both treatment and prevention services.

• HSRB also is in the process of revising and re-issuing the Program Announcement "Health Services Research on Alcohol-Related Problems." This announcement will cover the full range of studies included in health services research as it applies to services for alcohol treatment and prevention. This includes studies of the availability, accessibility, utilization, delivery, quality, management effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and outcomes of alcohol-related treatment and prevention services. The announcement continues to encourage applications on topics identified as priorities by the Advisory Council in its 1997 report Improving the Delivery of Alcohol Treatment and Prevention Services: A National Plan for Alcohol Health Services Research. The new announcement is expected to appear in October.

The Researcher in Residence Program, an attempt to encourage the clinical adoption of researched-based improvements in treatment practice, is currently operating at four treatment clinics in North Carolina. This program is a joint initiative of NIAAA and CSAT. Leading researchers have made technical consultation visits to each clinical site. Each site has expressed an interest in adopting one of two practice improvements: the administration of naltrexone or the use of motivational interviewing. Results of these visits will be assessed after site visits to be held in October and November.

On June 1, Dr. Anders Romelsjo of Stockholm University visited NIAAA to give a seminar on "Alcohol Treatment and Problems in Sweden."

• Dr. Mike Hilton gave a presentation on NIAAA-supported research entitled "A Grantsmanship Workshop."

• Dr. Hilton also organized and chaired a symposium entitled "From Research to Practice."

• June 10: Dr. Harold Perl presented "Health Services Research Opportunities at NIAAA" at the annual meetings of the Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy in Atlanta, GA.

• June 11: Dr. Perl organized and chaired a symposium entitled "Alcohol and Drug Treatment Under Managed Care: Who gets in, Who stays in, and How much does it cost?" at the annual meetings of the Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy in Atlanta, GA.

• August 23: Dr. Perl gave a presentation entitled "Writing a Successful Grant Application to NIAAA" at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco, CA.

• August 26: Dr. Perl organized and chaired a symposium entitled "Medications for Alcohol Problems: They Work but Who Uses Them?" at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco, CA.

• September 5: Dr. Perl presented a symposium entitled "Health Services Research on Alcohol-Related Problems: NIAAA Funding Opportunities and a Quick Look Behind the Scenes" at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

• September 6: Dr. Perl presented a symposium entitled "Health Services Research on Alcohol-Related Problems: NIAAA Funding Opportunities and a Quick Look Behind the Scenes" at the Center for Health Research in Portland, OR.

• September 19: Dr. Mike Hilton gave a presentation entitled "Research Opportunities at NIAAA" at the Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.

The DICBR regrets to announce that Mr. Benedict J. Latteri (Dick), Acting Deputy Director, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, NIAAA, died suddenly of a heart attack on 7August 2001. Dick had a long (36 years) and distinguished federal government career serving in the fields of Administrative and Program Management. His friendship, talent and leadership will be missed. A Memorial Service is being planned for later this year.

05/29/01 Dr. Michael Charness (VA Medical Center & Harvard Medical School) presented seminar "Antagonists of Ethanol Inhibition of Cell Adhesion"

06/19/01 Dr. Eva Mezey (NINDS) presented seminar "Turning Blood into Brain"

09/06/01 Dr. Stephen Strom (University of Pittsburgh)presented seminar "The Use of Human Hepacytes in Basic and Clinical studies"

09/13/01 Dr. Laura Nagy (Case Western Reserve University) presented seminar "Disruption of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated signal transduction by ethanol"

Aryeh Herman (George Washington University) presented the poster "Genotyping for Human SLC6A4 (5HT Transporter) Promoter Region Polymorphism with PCR Utilizing Novel Primers." Preceptor: Paolo DePetrillo (LCS)

Sara L. Wajek (University of Wisconsin) presented the poster "Paternal Effects on Dominance Status in Rehsus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)." Preceptor:  James D. Higley (LCS/NN); Steven J Suomi (NICHD Sponsor)

Allyson J. Bennett, PhD (LCS/NN) presented research "Initial Alcohol Exposure Results in Stress-Dependent Acute Increases and Subsequent Decreases in CSF 5-HIAA Concentrations And Cardiac Signal Complexity in Alcohol-Naïve Rhesus Monkeys"

James M. Bjork, PhD (LCS) presented poster "Laboratory Correlates of Aggressiveness in Alcoholic Inpatients"

PJ Brooks, PhD (LNG) presented poster "Generation of Recombinant Cho Cells Expressing ADH4."

Paolo B. DePetrillo, MD (LCS) presented poster "Timecourse Electro-cardiographic Interbeat Interval Dynamics in Alcoholic Subjects after Short-Term Abstinence"

Mary-Anne Enoch, MD (LNG) presented poster "Low-Voltage Alpha EEG in a Plains American Indian Tribe: Association with Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and Heavy Smoking"

Robert L. Eskay, PhD (LCS) presented poster "The Effects of Ethanol on the HPA Axis and New Cell Formation in the Dentate Gyrus"

Bin Gao, MD/PhD (LPS) presented lectures "Interaction of Alcohol and Hepatitis Viral Proteins" and "Alcohol and the JAK-STAT Signal Pathway"

David Goldman, MD (LNG) presented lecture and poster "COMT VAL15.8 Met and Prefrontal Cognitive Function: Genetic Analysis" in the symposium "Emerging Evidence for Interactions between Ethanol & Alcoholism and Monoamine Transporters"

Won Ho Kim, PhD (LPS) presented poster "Additive activation of NF-kB by EtOH and HBx or HCV Core Protein Through PKC, PKB/Akt, and NIH/IKK/IkB Dependent Mechanism"

George Kunos, MD/PhD (LPS) presented lecture on "Endocannabinoids and the control of appetitive behavior" in the symposium "Ethanol, Endocannabinoids and Cannabinoidergic Signaling Mechanisms" and presented an abstract "Dose-Dependent Activation of Antiapoptotic and Proapoptotic Pathways by Ethanol (EtOH) in Vascular Endothelial Cells"

Robert Lipsky, PhD (LNG) present poster "Differential Allele-Specific Expression of the Human Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Gene"

Jie Liu, MD/PhD (LPS) present poster "Dose-Dependent Activation of Antiapoptotic and Proapoptotic Pathways by Ethanol in Vascular Endothelial Cells"

Drake Mitchell, PhD (LMBB) present research "Ethanol Accelerates and Enhances Receptor-G Protein Coupling"

Mahadev Murthy, PhD (LMBB) present lectures "Maternal Alcohol Consumption and Nutrition I: Gestational Alcohol and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Maternal Plasma and Red Blood Cells"; "Maternal Alcohol Consumption and Nutrition II: Gestational Alcohol, Fatty Acids and Vitamins in Maternal Plasma"; and "Maternal Alcohol Consumption and Nutrition III: Gestational Alcohol, Diet and Nutrient Levels in Maternal Plasma"

Van-Anh T. Nguyen, PhD (LPS) present poster "Expression of IFN Signaling Components in Human Alcoholic Cirrhotic Livers."

Hui Sun, MD (LMCN) presented poster "Deletional Analysis of the Role of the Large Intracellular Loop in the Phorbol Ester Potentiation of the 5-HT3 Receptor and the Receptor's Sensitivity to Ethanol"

Forrest Weight, MD (LMCN) presented posters for LMCN IRTA fellows Edgar M. Moradel, MS, "Potentiation by Phorbol Ester of 5-HT3A Receptor Reduced the Receptor's Sensitivity to Ethanol" and Jeffrey J. Schoenebeck, BS, "Deletional Analysis of the Role of the Large Intracellular Loop in the Phorbol Ester Potentiation of the 5-HT3 Receptor and Receptor's Sensitivity to Ethanol" as well as for Keming Xiong, BS, "Differential Modulation by Short Chain and Long Chain N-Alcohols of Rat P2X4 Receptors Expressed in Xenopus Oocytes"

Elena Werby, PhD (LMCN) present poster "Ethanol Directly Activates an Inward Current Mediated by the GABAA Through Single Amino Acid Mutation at 269 of the Y2 Subunit"

Li Zhang, MD (LMCN) present poster "Direct Activation of 5HT3 Receptor by Ethanol Correlates with the Channel Spontaneous Opening Through Single Amino Acid Mutations at 245"

Hee-Yong Kim, PhD, presented lecture "Protective Effect of Docosahexaenoic and Neuronal Apoptosis"

Burton J Litman, PhD, presented lecture "Docosahexaenoic Acid Structure and Function in Membranes: Rhodopsin and G Proteins"

Klaus Gawrisch, PhD, and Norman Salem Jr, PhD, served as workshop discussants

Mary Ann Enoch, MD (LNG) presented lecture "Low Voltage Alpha EEG and Alcoholism with Anxiety Disorders"

Daniel Hommer, MD (LCS) presented lecture "Brain Imaging in Alcoholism and Drug Addiction"

Brian Knutson, PhD (LCS) presented poster "Parametric fMRI Studies of Human Reward Circuitry"

Meredith L. Bastian, BS, presented posters "Multi-method Assessment of the Dominance Construct in Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)" and "Long-Term Effects of Infant Rearing Condition on the Acquisition of Dominance Rank in Juvenile and Adult Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)"

Allyson J. Bennett, PhD, presented lecture "Cardiac Signal Analysis Techniques in Pharmacological and Neurochemical Studies with Rhesus Monkeys"

Melissa S. Gerald, PhD, presented poster "Characterization of Eye Color Variability in Captive and Free-Ranging Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta)"

Todd Graham, BS, presented poster "Change in Cardiac Signal Dynamics Associated with Mk-801 and Lorazepam in Rhesus Monkeys"

James D. Higley, PhD, chaired the Research and Development Committee, presented as a coauthor 4 research papers and supervised fellow presentations

Kristina M. Kaiss, BS, presented poster "Relationship between Performance Patterns and Outcome on Multiple Learning Assessments in Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta)"

George Kunos, MD/PhD (LPS) presented lecture "Leptin-Regulated Endocannabinoids are Involved in the Control of Food and Ethanol Intake" at the 2001 Meeting of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS), El Escorial, Spain, 28-30June 2001

George Kunos, MD/PhD (LPS) presented invited lecture "Cannabinoid-Induced Vasorelaxation Mediated by a Novel G Protein-Coupled Receptor" at the NIDA symposium on "Cannabinoids: Chemistry and Biology" at the NIH, Bethesda MD,August 16-17 2001

Joseph R. Hibbeln, MD (LMBB) presented lecture "Psychiatric Consequences of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Insufficiency" in the Workshop on Essential Fatty Acids & Verbal Apraxia: A Potential Therapeutic Intervention, at the First Scientific Conference on Therapy for Verbal Apraxia/Dyspraxia (under the auspices of the CHERAB Foundation), Morristown NJ, 23-24July 2001

Philip J. Brooks, PhD (LNG) presented at the conference "Role of DNA Damage Response Defects in Neurodegenerative Disease" Tarrytown NY, 29July - 1August 2001

Jeffrey C. Long, PhD (LNG) presented lecture "Linkage and Linkage Disequilibrium Approaches to Finding Genes" at the FASEB Summer Research Conference on Commonalties and Differences in the Mechanisms of Alcohol and Other Drugs of Abuse, Tucson AZ, 4-9August 2001

Robert Lipsky, PhD (LNG) presented lecture "Intrinsic Survival Pathways in Neurons: Signaling Mechanisms/Role of N Methyldaspartate..." at the 9th International Congress on Amino Acids, Vienna, Austria, 6-8August 2001

Philip J. Brooks, PhD (LNG) presented poster "Tissue and Sequence Dependence of 8,5 Cyclodeoxyadenosine in the Rat" at the Genetic Toxicology Gordon Conference, Colby-Sawyer College, New London NH, 12-17August 2001

George Kunos, MD/PhD (LPS) presented invited lecture "Endocannabinoids: Emerging Role In Cardiovascular and Neuroendocrine Regulation" at the 222nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago IL, 26-30August 2001

Norman Salem Jr, PhD (LMBB) presented lecture "Use of Multiple Labels in the Study of EFA Metabolism In Vivo" at the 5th International Conference on Fatty Acids in Cell Signaling, Gargnano, Italy, 1-5September 2001

George Kunos, MD/PhD (LPS) will present lecture "Role of Endocannabinoids in the Control of Appetitive Behavior" at the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP) Hungarian Regional Congress and meet with Dr. Zoltan Jarai (St. Imre Teaching Hospital) to discuss collaboration. Budapest, Hungary, 20-24September 2001

George Kunos, MD/PhD (LPS) will present seminar "New Insights into Cardiovascular Regulation by Endocannabinoids" at the Julius-Maximilians-Universitaet Wuerzburg, Medizinische Universitaetsklinik and meet with Dr. Jens Wagner to discuss collaborative project involving cardiovascular and coronary circulation and the effects of alcohol on these systems. Wuerzburg, Germany, 25-26September 2001

George Kunos, MD/PhD (LPS) will present lecture "Use of Genetically Altered Mice to Explore Novel Physiological Functions for Endocannabinoids" at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat and meet with Prof. Dr. Andreas Zimmer to discuss current collaborative project that uses knockout mice, developed by Dr. Zimmer, to examine endocannabinoids and their effects on alcohol preference. Bonn, Germany, 27-28September 2001

Anderson R, Drewes L, Ntambi J, Rapoport S, Hibbeln J, Yavin E, Horrocks L, Moore S, Salem N, Preuss M, Spector A, Lagarde M, Kim HY, Horrobin D: Brain uptake and utilization of fatty acids: Applications to peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (An International Workshop) - Roundtable discussion of session 3: The regulation and functions of DHA in neurons and neuronal membranes. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2001;16(2-3):279-84 (Editorial)

Batkai S, Jarai Z, Wagner JA, Goparaju SK, Varga K, Liu J, Wang L, Mirshahi F, Khanolkar AD, Makriyannis A, Urbaschek R, Garcia N, Sanyal AJ, Kunos G: Endocannabinoids acting at vascular CB, receptors mediate the vasodilated state in advanced liver cirrhosis. Nature Medicine 2001;7(7):829-34

Binder H, Gawrisch K: Dehydration induces lateral expansion of polyunsaturated 18:0-22:6 phosphatidylcholine in a new lamellar phase. Biophysical Journal 2001;81(2):969-82

Burgdorf J, Knutson B, Panksepp J, Shippenberg TS: Evaluation of rat ultrasonic vocalizations as predictors of the conditioned aversive effects of drugs. Psychopharmacology 2001;155(1):35-42

Di Marzo V, Goparaju SK, Wang L, Liu J, Batkai S, Jarai Z, Fezza F, Miura GI, Palmiter RD, Sugiura T, Kunos G: Leptin-regulated endocannabinoids are involved in maintaining food intake. Nature (London) 2001;410(6830):822-825

Egan MF, Goldberg TE, Kolachana BS, Callicott JH, Mazzanti CM, Straub RE, Goldman D, Weinberger DR: Effect of COMT Val(108/158) Met genotype on frontal lobe function and risk for schizophrenia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2001;98(12):6917-22

Enoch MA, Harris CR, Goldman D: Does a reduced sensitivity to bitter taste increase the risk of becoming nicotine addicted? Addictive Behaviors 2001;26(3):399-404

Feng J, Craddock N, Jones LR, Cook EH, Goldman D, Heston LL, Peltonen L, DeLisi LE, Sommer SS: Systematic screening for mutations in the glycine receptor alpha 2 subunit gene (GLRA2) in patients with schizophrenia and other psychiatric diseases. Psychiatric Genetics 2001;11(1):45-8

Feng JN, Yan J, Michaud S, Craddock N, Jones IR, Cook EH, Goldman D, Heston LL, Peltonen L, Delisi LE, Sommer SS: Scanning of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) and thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TR alpha) genes in patients with psychiatric diseases: Four missense mutations identified in ER alpha gene. American Journal of Medical Genetics 2001;105(4):369-74

Higley JD: Individual differences in alcohol-induced aggression - A nonhuman-primate model. Alcohol Research & Health 2001;25(1):12-9

Jo SH, Son MK, Koh HJ, Lee SM, Song IH, Kim YO, Lee YS, Jeong KS, Kim WB, Park JW, Song BJ, Huhe TL: Control of mitochondrial redox balance and cellular defense against oxidative damage by mitochondrial NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2001;276(19):16168-76

Karimullah K, George DT, DePetrillo PB: The time-course of electrocardiographic interbeat interval dynamics in alcoholic subjects after short-term abstinence. Eur J Pharmacol 2001;427(3):229-35

Kawaguchi T, Veech RL, Uyeda K: Regulation of energy metabolism in macrophages during hypoxia - Roles of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and ribose 1,5-bisphosphate. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2001;276(30):28554-61

Kevala JH, Kim HY: Determination of substrate preference in phosphatidylserine decarboxylation by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Analytical Biochemistry 2001;292(1):130-8

Kim HY, Akbar M, Kim KY: Inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by polyunsaturated fatty acids. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2001;16(2-3):223-7

Knutson B, Adams CM, Fong GW, Hommer D: Anticipation of Increasing Monetary Reward Selectively Recruits Nucleus Accumbens. Journal of Neuroscience 2001;21(RC159):1-5

Kumra S, Sporn A, Hommer DW, Nicolson R, Thaker G, Israel E, Lenane M, Bedwell J, Jacobsen LK, Gochman P, Rapoport JL: Smooth pursuit eye-tracking impairment in childhood-onset psychotic disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry 2001;158(8):1291-8

Lilenfeld LRR, Devlin B, Bacanu S, Kaye WH, Bulik CM, Strober M, Berrettini WH, Fichter MM, Goldman D, Halmi KA, Kaplan A, Woodside DB, Treasure J: Deriving behavioural phenotypes in an international, multi-centre study of eating disorders. Psychological Medicine 2001;31(4):635-45

Litman BJ, Niu SL, Polozova A, Mitchell DC: The role of docosahexaenoic acid containing phospholipids in modulating G protein-coupled signaling pathways - Visual transduction. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2001;16(2-3):237-42

Mann K, Agartz I, Harper C, Shoaf S, Rawlings RR, Momenan R, Hommer DW, Pfefferbaum A, Sullivan EV, Anton RF, Drobes DJ, George MS, Bares R, Machulla HJ, Mundle G, Reimold M, Heinz A: Neuroimaging in alcoholism: Ethanol and brain damage. Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research 2001;25(5):104S-9S (Suppl)

Noetzel M, Moser H, Salem N, Martinez M, Raymond G, Powers J, Faust P, Rapoport S, Yavin E, Katz R, Mihalik S, Edmond J: Brain uptake and utilization of fatty acids: Applications to peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (An International Workshop) - Roundtable discussion of session 4: T0he roles of DHA in Zellweger syndrome, a representative peroxisomal biogenesis disorder. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2001;16(2-3):317-21 (Editorial)

Pawlosky RJ, Hibbeln JR, Novotny JA, Salem N: Physiological compartmental analysis of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism in adult humans. Journal of Lipid Research 2001;42(8):1257-65

Rackoff J, Yang QF, DePetrillo PB: Inhibition of rat PC12 cell calpain activity by glutathione, oxidized glutathione and nitric oxide. Neurosci Lett 2001;311(2):129-32

Reist C, Mazzanti C, Vu R, Tran D, Goldman D: Rapid publication - Serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism is associated with attenuated prolactin response to fenfluramine. American Journal of Medical Genetics 2001;105(4):363-8

Roy A, Rylander G, Forslund K, Asberg M, Mazzanti CM, Goldman D, Nielsen DA: Excess tryptophan hydroxylase 17 779C allele in surviving cotwins of monozygotic twin suicide victims. Neuropsychobiology 2001;43(4):233-6

Salem N, Moriguchi T, Greiner RS, McBride K, Ahmad A, Catalan JN, Slotnick B: Alterations in brain function after loss of docosahexaenoate due to dietary restriction of n-3 fatty acids. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2001;16(2-3):299-307

Shen J, Glaspy J: Acupuncture: Evidence and implications for cancer supportive care. Cancer Practice 2001;9(3):147-50 (Editorial)

Sprecher H, Salem N, Edmond J, Kyle D, Anderson R, Hamilton J, Smith Q, Rapoport S, Cunnane S, Abumrad N, Katz R, Moore S, Hibbein J, Kim HY: Brain uptake and utilization of fatty acids: Applications to peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (An International Workshop) - Roundtable discussion of session 2: Brain uptake, transport, and metabolism of PUFA: In vivo and in vitro studies. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2001;16(2-3):215-21 (Editorial)

Sternin E, Nizza D, Gawrisch K: Temperature dependence of DMPC/DHPC mixing in a bicellar solution and its structural implications. Langmuir 2001;17(9):2610-6

Umhau JC, Petrulis SG, Diaz R, Biddison JR, George DT: Hypothalamic function in response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose in long-term abstinent alcoholics. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research 2001;25(5):781-6

Vanakoski J, Virkkunen M, Naukkarinen H, Goldman D: No association of CCK and CCKB receptor polymorphisms with alcohol dependence. Psychiatry Research 2001;102(1):1-7

Wagner JA, Jarai Z, Batkai S, Kunos G: Hemodynamic effects of cannabinoids: coronary and cerebral vasodilation mediated by cannabinoid CB1 receptors. European Journal of Pharmacology 2001;423(2-3):203-10

Wilson RI, Kunos G, Nicoll RA: Pr4esynaptic specificity of endocannabinoid signaling in the hippocampus. Neuron 2001;31:453-462

Fong G, Knutson B, Adams C, Hommer D: Event-related FMRI reveals distinct neural correlates of reward anticipation versus feedback. Neuroimage 2001;13(6):S399 (Part 2 Suppl S)

Guillot PV, Kittles RA, Long JC, Bergen AW, Virkkunen M, Naukarinnen H, Linnoila M, Goldman D: Genetic determinism of aggressive behavior. Aggressive Behavior 2001;27(3):175

Knutson B, Adams C, Fong G, Walker J, Hommer D: Parametric FMRI confirms selective recruitment of nucleus accumbens during anticipation of monetary reward. Neuroimage 2001;13(6):S430 (Part 2 Suppl S)

Momenan R, Kerich M, Hommer D: Detection and computation of mesial and orbital cortical volumes in frontal lobe. Neuroimage 2001;13(6):S205 (Part 2 Suppl S)

Rio D, Rawlings R, Knutson B, Hommer D: Statistical estimation of the hemodynamic response function by application of a linear time invariant model in the fourier domain to functional magnetic resonance data. Neuroimage 2001;13(6):S234 (Part 2 Suppl S)

Shen J, Rio D, Momenan R, Knutson B, Rawlings B, Moon K, Woltz L, Hommer D: Differential brain activation response to different frequency of electroacupuncture. Neuroimage 2001;13(6):S937 (Part 2 Suppl S)

Winterer G, Knutson B, Adams C, Jones D, Hommer D, Weinberger D, Coppola R: Brain activation in space-time: A combined event-related fMRI and high-density EEG study. Neuroimage 2001;13(6):S284 (Part 2 Suppl S)

VI. UPCOMING MEETINGS

The following Alcohol Research Utilization System (ARUS) symposia and activities have been scheduled for the next four months (October, November, December, and January).

Joan Romaine has joined NIAAA's Office of Policy, Legislation, and Public Liaison (OPLPL). Joan is a first year Presidential Management Intern (designated to NIAAA), and will be working both with the Institute's outreach/liaison team as well as Ann Bradley on press/media activities.

Joan recently completed her Master of Public Health Degree, with a concentration in International Health Policy and Programs, from The George Washington University. She completed her undergraduate studies with Syracuse University's Dual Degree Program in Psychology and Advertising. Joan is a former Peace Corps Volunteer and AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer. While serving in the Peace Corps, Joan worked at Gabon's National AIDS Program in Libreville with the Information Education and Communication (IEC) Team. During her time with AmeriCorps VISTA, she worked as the Development Coordinator for Project YES (Youth Enrichment Support) Inc., in South Tucson, Arizona.

Christina S. Barr, VMD/PhD, has been appointed as a Post-Doctoral IRTA Fellow (08/01/01-07/31/03) in the Section on Neurochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Laboratory of Clinical Studies. Dr. Barr received her VMD (Dean's List) in 2001, from the University of Pennsylvania and her PhD (Magna Cum Laude) in 1998, in Neuroscience, from the Medical College of Ohio. Her PhD thesis addressed glucocorticoid regulation of protein synthesis in rat brain. She completed VMD externships (2001) at New England RPRC, Department of Neurochemistry, Harvard Medical School; Division of Comparative Medicine, MIT and the NIH Animal Center, Cayo Santiago, PR. Dr. Barr's previous research experience focused on New World nonhuman primate stress responsiveness and neurobiology. During her current appointment, she will receive training in the requisite skills to assess rhesus macaque CNS serotonin function, social behavior and psychopathology and will apply these tools to conduct investigations that link nonhuman primate stress responsiveness with interindividual differences in CNS serotonin function, alcohol consumption and impaired impulse control. She will be trained to pharmacologically test the response of the serotonin and CHR systems and taught to quantify and measure nonhuman primate aggression, social behavior and rates of alcohol consumption as well as to design drug studies to assess changes in behavior and psychology to study neurotransmitter-behavior relationships. She will also be taught to measure brain activity using neuroimaging.

Skadi M. Beblo, MD, was appointed as a part-time Visiting Fellow (20 hrs/wk, 09/04/01-09/03/02) in the Section of Nutritional Neuroscience, Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry & Biophysics (LMBB). Dr. Beblo received her MD in 1994 from the University of Munich. She served as an Intern (1996-97) in the University of Munich, Department of Clinical Chemistry & Metabolism, Children's Hospital, where she was involved in routine patient care as well as in clinical investigations of children with inherited diseases. Prior to joining the LMBB, Dr. Beblo served as a Pediatric Resident (1997-2001) at Children's Hospital in the outpatient clinic for inborn metabolic diseases where she initiated a protocol to evaluate the effect of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on brain development in children with phenylketonuria. While with the LMBB, she will be trained in lipid and fatty acid analysis and will apply these skills to the analysis of samples from a study of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy. She will analyze maternal and infant blood samples as well as cord samples to ascertain lipid profiles and relate the data to alcohol intake and other nutritional and demographic features.

Frances Calderon, PhD, was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (09/04/01-09/03/03) in the Section of Mass Spectrometry, LMBB. Dr. Calderon received her PhD (1999) in Biological Sciences, majoring in Cellular Biology, from Catholic University, Chile. From 1999-2001, Dr. Calderon served as Instructor Professor, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, during which time she had an opportunity to serve as a Special Volunteer in LMBB (01/15-4/15/01) where she explored the potential protective effects of neuronal DHA on cell integrity. During her current fellowship with LMBB, Dr. Calderon will participate in ongoing studies of the effect of polyunsaturates and ethanol on neuronal signaling involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. She will continue to work to establish primary cell culture model systems where membrane composition can be manipulated by the polyunsaturate status in order to evaluate actions of polyunsaturates and ethanol on neuronal differentiation, proliferation and survival.

Yumiko Honse, PhD, was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (08/15/01-08/14/03) in the Unit on Cellular Neuropharmacology, Laboratory of Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology. Dr. Honse received her MS (1993) from the College of Pharmacy, Kobe-Gakuin University, Japan, and her PhD (2001) in Pharmacology from the University of Texas, where her research examined the regulation of the NMDA receptor expression by chronic ethanol. Dr. Honse was recipient of the Johnson & Johnson Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Pharmacy (1999), RSA's Student Merit & Junior Investigator Award (2000), the Texas RSA John P. McGovern Award (2000) and a Jones Travel Award (2000-01) from the Waggoner Center for Alcohol & Addiction Research. During this fellowship, Dr. Honse will focus on the structure and function of recombinant neurotransmitter receptors and the molecular determinants of the sensitivity of these proteins to alcohols and related agents to advance understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of action of alcohols and related agents in the nervous system. She will be trained in research methods used to study the effects of alcohol and other neuroactive substances at the cellular and molecular level using experimental model systems that include patch-clamp electrophysiology recording and related pharmacologic methods of analysis. She will also receive training in molecular biological techniques such as plasmid DNA preparation and site-directed mutagenesis.

Yoshihiro Kashiwaya, MD/PhD, was appointed as a Research Fellow, Visiting Program (07/16/01-07/15/03) in the Unit of Metabolic Control, LMBB. He earned his MD (1989) from Kitasato University School of Medicine and was Board Certified in Neurology in 1999. He received his PhD (2000), in Medicine, from Tottori University, Japan. Between 1989-1992, Dr. Kashiwaya completed a residency in Critical Care & Emergency Medicine at Kitasato University Hospital followed by a Visiting Fellowship (1992-97) in the Unit of Metabolic Control (LMBB). He then served as an Associate Researcher (1997-99), Department of Neurology, Tottori University, focusing new therapeutic approaches to neurodegenerative conditions. Prior to his current appointment with LMBB, Dr. Kashiwaya served as Technical Officer of Health & Welfare (1999-2001), Department of Neurology, Nishitottori National Hospital, Japan, where his work focused on the treatment of patients with neurodegenerative disease, infection of the CNS and apoplexy. During this appointment, Dr. Kashiwaya will continue his work on possible therapeutic approaches to both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease along with investigating the possible role of mild ketosis in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Fang-Li Lu, MD, PhD, was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (08/14/01 - 08/13/03) in the Section on Human Neurogenetics, Laboratory of Neurogenetics. Dr. Lu earned her MD (1984) at Shihezi Medical College, Zinjiang, PR China and her PhD (1994) in Parasitology at Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China. Prior to joining the LNG, Dr. Lu served as a Visiting Scientist, Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School where she was investigating the pathogenesis and immunology of Toxoplasma gondii. Dr. Lu has a strong background in Parasitology but believes the field is limited and desires to expand her biomedical knowledge and skills into the field of molecular genetics as it relates to the study of alcoholism and alcohol-related dysfunction. While with LNG, Dr. Lu will work with the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) functional genomic project team and will learn to screen for SNPs using denatured high-performance liquid chromatography and learn to characterize SNPs using direct DNA sequencing methods. Subsequently, she will develop a project relating sequence variation among brain-expressed disease candidate genes to functional changes in those genes. She will have an opportunity to develop proficiency in expressing genes using in vitro and in vivo approaches for functional studies.

Timothy K. Newman, PhD, was appointed as a Post-Doctoral IRTA Fellow (08/01/01-07/31/02) in the Section on Neurochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Laboratory of Clinical Studies. Dr. Newman received his PhD (1997) and MA (1993) in Biological Anthropology from New York University. Between 1997-2001, Dr. Newman served as a postdoctoral scientist in the Department of Genetics, SW Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio TX, where he conducted research: in genetic linkage mapping in baboons; mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis in wild baboons; paternity testing and pedigree reconstruction in vervets; to determine mono/di-zygotic status in a pair of captive twin gorillas; and, to determine Indian/Chinese origin of unprovenanced captive rhesus macaques. While with LCS, Dr. Newman will receive training in the requisite skills to conduct research in rhesus macaque neuro- and behavioral genetics that will complement his prior training in baboon genetics. He will be taught to assess rhesus macaque CNS serotonin function, social behavior and psychopathology then apply his knowledge to investigations that link nonhuman primate genetics with interindividual differences in CNS serotonin function, alcohol consumption, impaired impulse control and reproductive outcome. He will be taught to quantify and measure nonhuman primate aggression, social behavior and rates of alcohol consumption as well as skills to examine neurotransmitter-behavior relationships.

Zhiming Wen, PhD, was appointed as a Visiting Fellow (08/01/01-07/31/03) in the Section of Mass Spectrometry, LMBB. Dr. Wen received his PhD (2000), in Pharmaceutical Analysis, from the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College. He holds an MS (1988) in Analytical Chemistry, from Lanzhou University. Dr. Wen's doctoral research focused on studies on the chemical components of Chinese traditional compound medicines and extraction, isolation, identification and determination of bioactive constituents in Chinese materia medica and natural products. Between 1988-97, he held the post of Vice-Director, Senior Engineer and Analytical Chemist, Department of Environmental Analysis, Fushun Research Institute of Petroleum & Petrochemicals, China Petrochemical Corporation where his research was awarded 3rd prize for the Advancement of Science & Technology. While with LMBB, Dr. Wen will participate in research examining the effect of polyunsaturates and ethanol on neuronal signaling involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. His work will focus on the characterization of protein-protein and protein-membrane interaction underlying the functional necessity of polyunsaturates in neuronal cells.

Ephraim Yavin, PhD, has been appointed as a Senior Scientist, Visiting Program (09/24/01-10/23/02) in the Section of Nutritional Neuroscience, LMBB. He received his PhD (1972) in Biochemistry from Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Israel. Dr. Yavin has been associated with the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, since 1975 when he became a senior scientist in the Department of Biochemistry & Neurobiology. In 1979 he held the post of Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology, was promoted to Professor in 1994 and became Department Chair in 1995. While on sabbatical from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Dr. Yavin will participate with Section of Nutritional Neuroscience staff on studies of DHA deficiency in rat brain. Biochemical features of altered membrane function will be examined including lipid localization, alteration in lipid peroxide formation and the molecular biological underpinning of altered enzyme expression.

• Dr. Sam Zakhari received the Martin K. Trusty Excellence in Management Award in recognition of outstanding commitment to and excellence in the management of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Health.

• Drs. Antonio Noronha, Walter Hunt, Ellen Witt, Robert Karp and Roger Sorensen received the NIH Director's Award in recognition of outstanding efforts in advancing alcohol research by writing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary RFA on Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA).

• Dr. Joseph R. Hibbeln (LMBB) was a recipient of the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Klerman Award (July 2001) for his research into the role of omega 3 fatty acids as a possible treatment for certain psychiatric disorders. The Gerald L. Klerman Memorial Award honors outstanding achievements in clinical research by former NARSAD Young Investigators; Dr, Hibbeln was a 1997 recipient of the NARSAD Young  Investigator Award.