Meetings/Conferences

NIDA hosted its second Health Disparities Conference, Bridging Science and Culture to Improve Drug Abuse Research in Minority Communities at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia, October 24-26, 2005. Conference highlights included plenary sessions on genetic research, health disparities within rural communities, HIV/AIDS and the criminal justice system, and gender issues associated with drug abuse research. Participants also had the opportunity to attend a poster session and smaller symposia on numerous drug abuse research concerns, including social, cognitive, behavioral, health and medical consequences as they related to minority populations. NIDA staff was heavily involved in the conference, serving in roles as conference planners, session/symposia moderators, chairs of grant writing workshops, poster session judges, travel award coordinators, etc. Staff participants included: Lula Beatty, Ph.D., Ana Anders, Pamela Goodlow, LeKhessa Doctor, Flair Lindsey, Charlotte Annan, Don Vereen, M.D., Wilson Compton, M.D., Carmen Rosa, Aria Crump, Ph.D., Belinda Sims, Ph.D., Mark Swieter, Ph.D., Nate Appel, Ph.D., Pushpa Thadani, Ph.D. Gloria Lester, Suman Rao King, Ph.D., Paul Schnur, Ph.D., David Anderson, Jessica Campbell, Ph.D. and CeCe McNamara Spitznas, Ph.D.

On November 17 - 18, 2005, NIDA convened the first meeting of the Basic Science Review Work Group in Bethesda, Maryland. This meeting was coordinated by Dr. Denise Pintello, OSPC, and chaired by Dr. Linda Porrino, who is a member of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. The purpose for this Work Group is to conduct a comprehensive review of NIDA's basic science research portfolio and to provide recommendations to effectively address the future direction of basic science research at NIDA. The Work Group members will prepare a written report for the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse in 2006.

The Work Group examining NIDA's Approach to Grant-Making held its first meeting on December 6-7, 2005 to review NIDA's current grant-making practices and will determine if any new actions or policies are needed. The Work Group membership is composed of experts in the field of drug abuse research and is chaired by Dr. Constance Weisner. Based on their findings and recommendations, it is anticipated that the Work Group members will complete their recommendations and final report in 2006.

On November 29th NIDA held a joint press conference and science meeting at the National Press Club on Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS: The Complexities of Linked Epidemics. During this event NIDA launched its newest public service announcement designed to urge teens to learn the link between drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.

On October 24, 2005, NIDA sponsored a one-day symposium titled: The NIH Roadmap: Inviting Drug Abuse and Addiction Researchers to Contribute to the Clinical Research Enterprise. The purpose of this symposium was to inform clinical and translational researchers about future scientific opportunities within the Roadmap. Dr. Timothy P. Condon, NIDA Deputy Director welcomed the several hundred participants and presented "NIH Roadmap for Medical Research: Inviting Drug Abuse and Addiction Researchers to Contribute to the Clinical Research Enterprise." The symposium was held in North Bethesda, Maryland and coordinated by Dr. Denise Pintello, OSPC and Ronald Dobbins, CCTN.

Drs. Minda Lynch and Allison Chausmer, DBNBR, co-organized and chaired a symposium entitled Adolescent Drug Abuse: Brain Development, Cognition and Vulnerability as part of NIDA's Frontiers in Addiction Research Mini-Convention Satellite to November's Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. The session focused on developmental processes that may contribute to increased vulnerability, including cortical development and a discussion of how brain maturation supports the emergence of abstract thought, goal planning, and behavioral inhibition. Speakers included Drs. Judith Rapoport from NIMH, Bea Luna, Linda Spear, and P.V. Piazza.

Drs. Susan Volman and David Shurtleff, DBNBR, co-organized and chaired a symposium entitled Neurobiological Basis for Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness as part of NIDA's Frontiers in Addiction Research Mini-Convention Satellite to November's Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. The symposium presented studies of psychiatric illness in humans and in animal models that seek to explain the neurobiological basis of comorbidity. Speakers included Drs. Sherry Leonard, R. Andrew Chambers, Jean King, and Robin Murray.

Dr. Susan Volman, DBNBR, and Dr. Barbara Sorg (Washington State University) co-organized and chaired a symposium entitled Reconsolidation of Memory: A New Approach To Treat Drug Addiction? as part of NIDA's Frontiers in Addiction Research Mini-Convention Satellite to November's Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. The symposium featured recent research on the behavioral, neural, and molecular basis of the reconsolidation of fear conditioning and drug-related memory, and addressed the question of whether a better understanding of the process of reconsolidation could shed light on how to disrupt the memory for drug addiction. Speakers included Drs. Karim Nader, Cristina Alberini, Barry Everitt, and Barbara Sorg.

Dr. Susan Volman, DBNBR, and Dr. Steve Gust, IP, organized an Early Career Investigators Poster Session as part of NIDA's Frontiers in Addiction Research Mini-Convention Satellite to November's Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. Poster presenters were selected from a diverse group of early career investigators, and for the first time this year, international presenters were sponsored in partnership with six international organizations: IUPHAR, IBRO, INRC, CPDD, ICRS, and IDARS.

Dr. Paul Schnur, DBNBR, and Dr. Joe Frascella, DCNBR, organized and chaired a symposium entitled Addiction and Obesity-Brain System Commonalities as part of NIDA's Frontiers in Addiction Research Mini-Convention Satellite to the 2005 Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. This session explored obesity and drug addiction through their common neurobiological processes and neuronal systems. Speakers included Daniele Piomelli, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, Ann E. Kelley, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Edmund T. Rolls, D.Sc., University of Oxford and Nora D. Volkow, M.D., NIDA.

Dr. Allison Chausmer, DBNBR, organized and chaired a symposium entitled mGluR: A Substrate in the Neurobiology of Addiction as part of NIDA's Frontiers in Addiction Research Mini-Convention Satellite to November's Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. This session focused on how the modulation of mGluR function results in neurobiological and behavioral changes, and how these changed are associated with drug challenged. Speakers included Drs. Paul J. Kenny (Scripps Research Institute), Karen Szumlinski (University of California, Santa Barbara), and Carl Lupica (NIDA Intramural Program).

Drs. Eve Reider and Elizabeth Robertson, Prevention Research Branch, DESPR, convened a meeting, Bi-directional Influences of Drug Abuse and Child Abuse and Neglect. The meeting was sponsored by NIDA's Office of Science Policy and Communication in conjunction with the Child Welfare League of America; it was held on October 27, 2005 at the Holiday Inn Select in Bethesda, Maryland.

The NIDA Special Populations Office and the AIDS Program Office cosponsored a seminar on December 6, 2005 with the NIMH Office of Special Populations and the NINDS Minority Research Office on HIV/AIDS in Minority Populations. The NIDA speaker was Dr. Maureen Miller, who spoke on Community Academic Partnerships.

CTN-Related Meetings/Conferences

A CTN New Node Orientation Meeting was held September 19-20, 2005 in Gaithersburg, MD. At this meeting, members of the Long Island and Ohio Valley Nodes joined the CCTN in briefing members of the two newest Nodes (Texas and Appalachian Tri-State) on CTN activities, policies and procedures.

National CTN Steering Committee (SC) Meetings were held October 25-26, in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA Director, outlined goals for the CTN over the next five years, identified steps the CTN might take to meet increasing resource challenges, and identified additional opportunities for the CTN. Dr. Timothy Condon, NIDA Deputy Director, provided an update on blending research and practice dissemination, describing collaboration with SAMHSA's ATTCs to disseminate strategies and products, which are dovetailed with the CTN protocols. Dr. Condon also discussed the opportunity for a convergence of NIDA Networks in order to do more with the same or fewer resources. The SC approved the revised By-Laws and the new governance structure for the CTN. Several NIDA presenters included: 1) Lynda Erinoff, Ph.D., discussed NIDA's HIV/AIDS Research Program and Counsil recommendations; 2) Jamie Biswas, Division of Pharmacotherapies and Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse, gave an overview of NIDA Initiatives in Medication Development.

Dr. Betty Tai, Director of the CCTN, presented at the 4th SINO-US Symposium on Medicine in the 21st Century, San Francisco, California, August 19-21, 2005. She spoke on Clinical Research and the NIH Roadmap.

CCTN staff and CTN investigators presented two sessions at the NIDA Health Disparities Conference on October 24-26, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia. The panels were: Implementation of Multi-Site Trials with Hispanic Minorities (CTN in Spanish) - The focus of the panel was on the experience of the CTN in implementing randomized clinical trials in Hispanic-serving, community based, drug treatment programs. The panelists were Dr. Rafaela Robles (Chair), Dr. Lourdes Suarez, Dr. Viviana Horigian, Dr. Edna Quinones, and Carmen Rosa, M.S. The title of the second panel was "What We Are Learning About Drug Abuse Treatment for Minorities: The CTN Experience". This panel presented a review of the findings for ethnic Minorities in studies affiliated with the CTN. The panelists were Dr. Kathy Burlew (Chair), Carmen Rosa, and Dr. Kathy Magruder.

The CTN Data and Safety Monitoring Board met November 17-18, 2005, in Bethesda, Maryland. The group reviewed the continuing progress of the CTN's active protocols and new protocols.

The CCTN sponsored two workshops at the 16th Annual Meeting & Symposium of AAAP (American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry) in Scottsdale, Arizona, December 9-11, 2005. The first session, entitled "The Interface between Pain and Addiction: New Horizons", was chaired by Dr. Petra Jacobs, CCTN NIDA, and Dr. Roger Weiss, Northern New England Node. Dr. Petra Jacobs also presented on "Blending Research and Practice: NIDA Perspectives on Bipolar Disorder and Addiction". This presentation was developed as a collaborative effort between CCTN and DESPR (Dr. Wilson Compton). In addition, Dr. Petra Jacobs presented a poster entitled "What is the connection between physical and psychological pain and the clinical implications of this relationship?"

The CCTN sponsored an all day pre-conference brainstorming symposium entitled "The Methamphetamine Menace: Treatment Approaches for a National Problem" as a satellite conference at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Annual Conference on December 10, 2005, in Waikoloa, Hawaii Dr. Volkow, Director of NIDA and Dr. Betty Tai co-chaired the meeting. Presenters discussed possible treatment interventions and implications for methamphetamine addiction.

On November 28th, 2005, Dr. Betty Tai was invited by the Treatment Research Center at University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychiatry, for a seminar on an update of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network and NIH roadmap initiatives on reengineering the clinical trials enterprise. During her visit, she had meetings with faculty members from the department to exchange information on current scientific status on drug abuse treatments.

The findings and implications for clinical practice from three CTN protocols were presented in a Symposium at the December 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) chaired by Dr. Edward Nunes. Dr. Maxine Stitzer (PI for studies CTN 0006 and 0005) presented on Motivational Incentives, Dr. Leslie Amass (Co-PI for studies CTN 0001 and 0002) presented on Buprenorphine-Naloxone for Short-Term Opioid Detoxification, and Dr. Bob Forman (PI for study CTN 0016) presented findings from Patient Feedback: A Quality Improvement System for Outpatient Clinics.

In collaboration with NIAAA and CSAT, new CCTN staff member Dr. Harold Perl organized an invited expert panel workshop titled "State-of-the-Science on Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice" on January 9-10, 2006 in North Bethesda, MD. The goals of this workshop included delineating current knowledge on implementation science in addictions and other health-related areas, identifying critical gaps in knowledge and recommending an agenda for future research on implementation.

January 29- February 2, 2006, Dr. Betty Tai, Director, CCTN, chaired a session to highlight CTN research results at the 11th International Conference on Treatment of Addictive Behaviors (CTAB-11) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The symposium was titled, "The First Four Studies: Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice", and included presentations by Dr. Dennis McCarty (PI for study 0008), Dr. Kathleen Carroll (PI for studies CTN 0004 and 0005), Dr. Maxine Stitzer (PI for CTN 0006 and 0007), and Dr. Walter Ling (PI for studies CTN 0001 and 0002).

Dr. Timothy P. Condon, Deputy Director, NIDA, presented "Addiction as a Brain Disease: Blending Research and Practice" at the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association Annual Conference: Partners in Action: Forging Our Future on September 18, 2005 in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon presented "Advances in Drug Abuse and Addiction Research: Implications for Prevention" at the Southwest Regional Prevention Conference on September 28, 2005 in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon gave the keynote address "Drug Addiction: A Brain Disorder" at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry conference on October 21, 2005 in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon presented "Network of NIDA's Networks" at the CTN National Steering Committee meeting on October 25, 2005 in North Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon presented "Addiction as a Brain Disease: Blending Research and Practice" at the 36th Annual MAARCH Chemical Health Conference on October 26, 2005 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon presented "Methamphetamine: The Science of Addiction" to the Minnesota Supreme Court Chemical Dependency Task Force on October 28, 2005 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon presented a judicial training session entitled "It's a Brain Disease: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: The Neuroscience of Addiction & Judicial Decision Making," at the Circuit Court of Cook County Criminal Division, Cook County, Illinois on November 15, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon presented "Advances in Drug Abuse and Addiction Research: Implications for Prevention" at the 17th Annual Ohio Prevention and Education Conference on November 17, 2005 in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Timothy P. Condon presented the keynote address entitled "Bringing the Power of Science to Bear on the Care of Addicted Patients" at the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 16th Annual Meeting and Symposium on December 9, 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Dr. Cindy Miner, Deputy Director, OSPC, participated in an Advisory Work Group Meeting at TASC on September 15, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Cindy Miner gave the Opening Plenary on "The Science of Addiction" at a Conference for Family Court Judges, Masters and Staff on September 23, 2005 in Timonium, Maryland.

Dr. Cindy Miner participated in a Grantwriting Workshop at the 2005 American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conference on October 19, 2005 in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Cindy Miner was a Keynote Speaker on "Just INCASE You Didn't Know: Drug Addiction is a Brain Disease" at the INCASE Conference on October 28, 2005 in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Dr. Suman Rao King, Science Policy Branch, OSPC, presented on the NIH Loan Repayment Program in the Grant Writing Workshop at the Health Disparities Conference on October 24-25, 2005 in Atlanta, GA.

On December 15, 2005, Drs. Susan Weiss and Ruben Baler, Science Policy Branch, OSPC, co-chaired a panel at the 44th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmaco-logy in Waikoloa, Hawaii, entitled "Plastic Changes in the Addicted Brain: A Glimpse at the Next Generation of Pharmacotherapies." The panel, organized by OSPC, brought together four leading researchers investigating some of the molecular changes triggered by drugs of abuse in the brain. The panel discussed several cutting-edge strategies aimed at using the new understanding of the processes underlying drug addiction toward the development of better addiction treatments.

On October 4, 2005, Dr. Ruben Baler made a presentation at the School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Exercise Science, at George Washington University. The lecture was part of the "Drug Awareness" course offered every semester to incoming freshmen; it was entitled "Addiction is a Brain Disease" and highlighted NIDA's mission, strategies and achievements.

Mr. David Anderson, OSPC, made a presentation on research-practice collaboration at "Persistently Safe Schools 2005", the annual conference of the Hamilton Fish Institute of George Washington University, held on September 11, 2005 at the Wyndham Plaza Hotel, Philadelphia.

Ms. Sheryl Massaro, OSPC, presented at the NIH-wide communications workshop, Taking Action: Health Promotion and Outreach with American Indians and Alaska Natives, on November 1, 2005 at the Natcher Conference Center, NIH. She presented lessons learned from creating, disseminating, and evaluating NIDA's Walking a Good Path Calendars, including advice on how to begin such outreach, approach community members, form partnerships, conduct meetings and research, and develop messages and materials.

Dr. Cathrine Sasek, Office of Science Policy and Communications, presented a symposium titled "How to Improve Neuroscience Education and Literacy" on November 14, at the 2005 Society for Neuroscience Meeting. Also presenting were Drs. David Friedman, Rochelle Schwartz-Bloom, and David Vannier.

Dr. Donald Vereen, Jr., OD, presented at the DC Drug Summit, sponsored by the Mayor's Interagency Task Force on Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Control on September 29, 2005 in Washington, DC.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. presented "Drug Abuse and Addiction" and served on a panel with the NIH Deputy Director at the Men's Health Conference at the Howard University Hospital on October 1 and 2, 2005 in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. presented the "Science of Addiction" to the Florida Supreme Court and associated personnel on October 6, 2005 in Orlando, FL.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. presented a keynote address to the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Center (ASTAR), entitled the Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction and on October 9, 2005 in Airlie, VA.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. made a plenary presentation to the American Academy of Pediatrics on October 10, 2005 in Washington D.C.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. made a presentation on drug abuse and addiction research findings to the Alliance of Concerned Black Men, on October 12, 2005 in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. gave a presentation on drug abuse and addiction research to the Drug Enforcement Administration demand reduction staff on October 14, 2005 in Arlington, VA.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. presented an overview of drug abuse and addiction research to the D.C. Safe Schools and Communities Coalition General Body on October 19, 2005.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. delivered the keynote address at the annual Washington State Prevention Summit on October 20, 2005.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. opened the NIDA sponsored "Bridging Science and Culture to Improve Drug Abuse Research in Minority Communities" and moderated a panel, October 24-26, 2005 in Atlanta GA.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. was the keynote speaker for the Second Annual Corrections Mental Illness Awareness Week Program on October 28, 2005 in Boyds, MD.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. co-led a panel at the ASAM "State of the Art" Conference on October 29, 2005 in Washington D.C.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. was a plenary presenter at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students on November 3, 2005 in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. was the keynote presenter at the Nebraska Prevention Leadership Institute on November 7, 2005 in Lincoln NE.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. participated in the Disparities Focus Group Meeting of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals on November 9-10, 2005 in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Donald R. Vereen, Jr. participated in the American Psychiatric Association sponsored "Black Psychiatrists Dialogue" on November 13, 2005 in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Lula Beatty, Chief, Special Populations Office, met with the American Psychological Association's Committee on AIDS to discuss HIV/AIDS programs at NIDA and to discuss possible collaborations on preparing racial/ethnic minority scientists to become involved in HIV/AIDS research, September, 2005.

Dr. Lula Beatty gave a presentation, "Disparities in Drug Abuse: Priorities and Funding Opportunities at the National Institute on Drug Abuse," at the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Public Health, November 2005.

Dr. Lula Beatty gave a presentation, "HIV/AIDS, Drugs, and Criminalization in African Americans," at the Africa Studies Department, Central Connecticut University, November 2005.

Dr. Lula Beatty gave a presentation, "Health Disparities Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse," at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, November 2005.

Ana Anders, Senior Advisor on Special Populations, participated in the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse annual conference in Miami, Florida, September 14-17, 2005.

Ana Anders was a speaker at the Latino Behavioral Health Institute (LBHI) annual conference, September 20-22, 2005.

Ana Anders represented NIDA at the CSAT Hispanic Stakeholders meeting in Los Angeles, California, September 21, 2005.

Ana Anders attended a working meeting of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse in Miami, Florida, November 29 - December 1, 2005.

Flair Lindsey, Program Analyst, Special Populations Office, coordinated the ninth annual Summer Research with NIDA program. The program allowed high school and undergraduate students to engage in drug abuse research with NIDA grantees for 8-10 weeks over the summer. In 2005, 84 students and 32 grantees participated in the program.

Dr. Wilson Compton, Director, DESPR, presented a keynote presentation to the American Psychiatric Association meeting of Chief Residents in Psychiatry, San Diego, California, October 5, 2005. He also presented a keynote plenary at the South Carolina Community Methamphetamine Summit, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, November 28, 2005.

Dr. Wilson Compton chaired a plenary symposium on HIV/AIDS at the NIDA Health Disparities Conference-"Bridging Science and Culture", Atlanta, Georgia, October 24, 2005.

Dr. Wilson Compton presented to the Addictions Health Services Research conference on "Future Directions in Health Services Research", Santa Monica, California, October 26, 2005.

Dr. Wilson Compton presented to the NIDA meeting, Enhancing Linkages with the Drug Abuse Treatment System: The Role of Faith Leaders, Communities, and Organizations, Bethesda, Maryland, November 1, 2005.

Dr. Wilson Compton presented to the ECRI Conference on Opioids and Pain, November 3, 2005.

Dr. Wilson Compton presented at the American College on Neuropychopharmacology (ACNP) a poster on Pain and Opioid Abuse, Kailua, Hawaii, December 12, 2005.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson, DESPR, is the NIDA representative to the State Prevention Framework - State Incentive Grant Internal Workgroup on Evaluation. On September 28, 2005, she addressed the program evaluators from the 27 participating states and territories on developing and using community level instruments for evaluation.

Drs. Elizabeth Ginexi, Eve Reider and Elizabeth Robertson, all of DESPR, attended a conference on substance abuse and foster care from September 14-16, 2005, in Eugene, OR. They also conducted multiple site visits with prevention projects housed at the Oregon Social Learning Center and Oregon Research Institute.

Dr. Elizabeth Robertson is the NIDA representative to the State Prevention Framework - State Incentive Grant Evidence-based workgroup. The group is in the process of writing a document for use by states and communities on assessing the evidence for prevention programs, policies and practices.

Dr. Shakeh Kaftarian, Prevention Research Branch, DESPR, was invited by Vanderbilt University to be a guest speaker for the "Interdisciplinary Colloquium Series: Teaching and Conducting Community-based Participatory Research" attended by faculty, administrators and graduate students. Her two presentations were titled: "Participatory Research and Empowerment Evaluation Approaches" and "Funding Opportunities at the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Community-based Participatory Research." Dr. Kaftarian also consulted with graduate students and faculty interested in training and grant opportunities at NIDA.

Dr. Eve Reider chaired a panel on October 26, 2005 at Johns Hopkins University at the meeting New Directions for Mental Health and Drug Abuse Effectiveness and Dissemination Trial Research and Methodology. The panel title was From Efficacy to Practice in the Child Welfare System: Methodologic and Logistic Challenges.

At NIDA's recent "Bridging Science and Culture" meeting in Atlanta, GA, October 24 - 26, 2005, Dr. Jessica Campbell represented DESPR's Epidemiology Research Branch and moderated a session on "Drug Abuse Research in Minority Communities: Focus on Youth."

Dr. Peter Hartsock, DESPR, participated with NIDA Grantee Dr. Andrei Kozlov in the National Library of Medicine's "Global Health Histories Conference," November 3-5, 2005, in Bethesda, MD.

Dr. Peter Hartsock met on October 13, 2005 with the founding faculty of the new University School of Public Health and scientists from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, in College Park, MD, to discuss research plans involving remote sensing and monitoring of opiate cultivation, trade routes, and the correspondence between trade routes and the spread of HIV.

Dr. Peter Hartsock attended the symposium, "Approaches of Clinical Research in Disaster and Defense Medicine," in Washington, D.C., on October 18, 2005. The meeting was sponsored by the Department of Defense and NATO.

Dr. Peter Hartsock participated in a round-table discussion with Russian drug abuse researchers during the Conference of the U.S. Society of Neuroscience, in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2005.

Drs. Cartwright, Chandler, Denisco, Hilton, Jones, Flanzer, and Pringle, all of DESPR, provided technical assistance at a workshop held to assist eligible applicants in developing and submitting their proposals for RFA #06-001, Enhancing Practice Improvement in Community-Based Care for Prevention and Treatment of Drug Abuse or Co-Occurring Drug Abuse and Mental Disorders on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at the Neuroscience Conference Center.

Dr. William Cartwright, DESPR, advised the SAMHSA/CSAT Evaluation of the Buprenorphine Waiver Program Expert Panel on October 3, 2005.

Dr. Jerry Flanzer, DESPR, presented a paper and moderated a panel at the 2005 Addictions Health Services Research Conference, reviewing findings based on the HIV/AIDS Treatment Adherence, Health Outcomes, and Cost Study, October 26, 2005, Los Angeles, CA.

Dr. Jerry Flanzer spoke about the importance of community based research partnerships at the opening session of the World Conference of Oxford Houses, Alexandria, VA., October 14, 2005.

Dr. Redonna K. Chandler, DESPR, gave the plenary address entitled, Integration Drug Abuse Services into Criminal Justice Settings at the 29th Annual National Conference for the Association for Medical Education & Research in Substance Abuse, Bethesda, MD, October 27, 2005.

Dr. Redonna K. Chandler presented a paper entitled, Data & Safety Monitoring in Clinical Trials in Intervention and Drug Abuse Services Research at the Addiction Health Services Research meeting, Santa Monica, CA, October 25, 2005.

Dr. Redonna K. Chandler, DESPR, presented for the Leadership Plenary: Charting a Collaborative Path to Success at the 12th National TASC Conference, Cleveland, OH, September 13, 2004.

Dr. Thomas Hilton, DESPR, represented NIDA at the initial planning committee meeting for the Government-Wide Conference on Returning Veterans at SAMHSA headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD on September 21, 2005.

Dr. Thomas Hilton attended the 2005 Oxford House World Conference held in Alexandria, VA October 13th -16th 2005 where he participated in a symposium overviewing NIDA-funded research examining the role of Oxford Houses in post-treatment addiction recovery.

Dr. Nicolette Borek, DCNBR, co-chaired a symposium on "The Neurobiology of the Adolescent Brain and Increased Risk for Experimentation", and presented a talk on NIDA research funding opportunities at the "Research Seminar for Early Investigators" at the 52nd annual meeting of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, October 18-23, 2005 in Toronto.

Dr. Nicolette Borek, DCNBR, participated as a scientific staff collaborator in the Network Meeting of the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions in Rockville, MD, October 25-28, 2005. The ATN is a collaborative network cosponsored by NICHD, NIDA, NIMH, and NIAAA.

Drs. Nicolette Borek, Karen Sirocco, and Vincent Smeriglio of the Behavioral and Brain Development Branch, DCNBR, participated in the Study Assembly Meeting of the National Children's Study (NCS) that was held November 29-30, 2005 in Washington, DC. Entitled "Implementing the National Children's Study: Scientific Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities", the meeting included introduction of the Vanguard Centers and the Coordinating Center of the NCS, as well as several sessions on current implementation issues and future planning for the NCS.

Dr. Laurence Stanford, DCNBR, participated in the NIH MRI Study of Normal Human Brain Development Annual Workshop on November 17 and 18, 2005. The MRI Study of Normal Human Brain Development is a multi-site project designed to develop a database of the development of human brain and behavior from birth through late adolescence.

Dr. Steven Grant, DCNBR, was a discussant at the first annual conference of the Society for Impulsivity Research held in Washington, DC on November 10, 2005.

Drs. Steven Grant and Harold Gordon staffed the NIDA booth at the Society of Neuroscience meeting in Washington, DC on November 12 -16, 2005.

Dr. Steven Grant represented NIDA at the conference on NeuroAcupuncture in Bethesda, MD, November 17-18, 2005.

Dr. Steven Grant was chair and discussant at a symposium panel titled "What Does Dopamine Say: Clues from Computational Modeling" at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Waikoloa, Hawaii, December 11-15, 2005. The participants in the symposium were, Read Montague, Baylor University, Paul Glimcher, New York Universty, A. David Redish, University of Minnesota and Jonathan Cohen, Princeton University.

On October 21, 2005, Dr. Melissa W. Racioppo, DCNBR, attended the satellite meeting of the K12-supported trainees sponsored by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Trainees give bi-annual updates on their progress to the AACAP K12 Executive Committee, and mentors and other presenters offer guidance. Dr. Racioppo presented a brief update on NIDA's program priorities as part of this meeting.

On October 22, 2005, Dr. Melissa W. Racioppo chaired a symposium at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) entitled "Cutting-Edge Treatments for Adolescent Substance Abuse" in Toronto, Canada. NIDA-funded researchers Ken C. Winters, John R. Knight, Roger A. Roffman, Lynda Stein, and Eric T. Moolchan presented their work on adolescent substance abuse screening, engagement, and treatment.

On October 24th & 25th, 2005, Dr. Cece McNamara Spitznas, DCNBR, gave presentations in a NIDA led grant workshop entitled, "Grant Writing Tips From A NIH Program Official's Perspective" at the NIDA Health Disparities Conference in Atlanta, GA.

On November 9, 2005, Dr. Cece McNamara Spitznas participated as a discussant on Subjective and Objective Measures and PET scanning and Ecological Momentary Assessment for measuring Adverse Events at the NIMH Workshop on Assessing Suicidality During SSRI Antidepressant Treatment in Bethesda, MD.

On November 17, 2005, Dr. Melissa W. Racioppo participated in a panel of Federal grants officers, addressing several special interest groups as part of the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy (now ABCT) in Washington, D.C. Representatives from NIDA, NIAAA, NIMH, and the Academy for Children and Families spoke with clinical researchers with interests in child maltreatment and neglect, childhood anxiety disorders, and couples and family therapy about Federal funding opportunities.

On November 19 2005, Dr. Lisa Onken, DCNBR, co-chaired a workshop with Dr. Michael Otto, "Writing National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants: Practical Strategies for Success," at the annual convention of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington, DBNBR and NIDA's Women & Gender Research Coordinator, chaired Session IV: Metabolism and Session V: Hormonal Regulation at the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health meeting, Second Annual Interdisciplinary Women's Health Research Symposium. October 20, 2005, Bethesda, MD.

Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington chaired Sessions III and IV: Interdisciplinary SCOR Presentations, at the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health, Specialized Centers of Research on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women's Health: Center Directors Meeting, October 21, 2005, Bethesda, MD.

Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington gave an invited plenary address, "The Pervasiveness of Male-Female Differences in Drug Abuse," at the annual meeting of the International Council on Alcohol and Addictions, Conference on Addictions, October 23-28, 2005, Budapest, Hungary.

Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington gave an invited talk, "Sex/Gender Differences in Drug Abuse and Dependence," at the Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA), November 9, 2005, Rockville, MD.

Dr. Cora Lee Wetherington was co-facilitator (with Kimberly Yonkers, M.D., Yale University) of the Biological & Developmental Factors Workgroup as part of the working meeting, The Surgeon General's Workshop on Women's Mental Health, November 29-December 1, 2005, Denver, CO.

Dr. David Shurtleff, Director, DBNBR, gave a presentation on "Research Funding Opportunities for Inhalant Abuse Research at NIDA" at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Sponsored Conference: "Inhalant Abuse Among Children: Consultation on Building an International Research Agenda," Rockville, MD, November 7-9, 2005.

Dr. Jonathan D. Pollock, DBNBR, organized and co-chaired a session with Dr. James Kennedy at the World Congress on Psychiatric Genetics, entitled, "Can Genetic Variation Be Imaged? Boston, MA, October 17, 2005.

Dr. Christine Colvis and Dr. Jonathan D. Pollock, DBNBR, co-chaired an invited symposium at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, entitled, " Epigenetic Mechanisms and Gene Networks in the Nervous System. Washington, D.C. November 15, 2005.

Dr. Joni Rutter, DBNBR, chaired the NIDA Genetics Consortium Meeting, November 29-30, 2005. Rockville, MD.

Dr. Jonathan D. Pollock, DBNBR, co-chaired with Dr. Lorna Role (Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons) a panel, entitled, "Molecular Mechanisms of Synaptic Alterations Associated with Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Addiction", at the annual meeting of The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), Waikoloa, HI, December 14, 2005.

Dr. Frank Vocci, Director, DPMCDA, spoke on Medications Development Programs at the NIH at the American Clinical Pharmacology Units meeting in Bethesda on October 18, 2005.

Dr. Frank Vocci organized, co-moderated and spoke at the October 27, 2005 evening session of the American Society of Addiction Medicine's State of the Art Conference in Addiction Medicine 2005 in Washington, D.C. The session was titled: An Update on New and Pipeline Anti-Addiction Medications. Speakers and topics were: Dr. Bankole Johnson: Acamprosate and other medications for alcohol addiction and relapse prevention; Dr. Robert Anthenelli: Rimonabant for smoking cessation; Dr. Helen Pettinati: Depot naltrexone: A first in addiction pharmacotherapy; Dr. Ahmed Elkashef: New and promising medications for the treatment of cocaine addiction; and Dr. Frank Vocci: Emerging medications: From the bench to the clinic.

Dr. Frank Vocci presented on New pharmacotherapies for assisting smokers in their cessation efforts at the Increasing Consumer Demand for Cessation Products and Services meeting on December 7, 2005 in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Frank Vocci presented Psychiatry Grand Rounds at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu on December 9, 2005. His presentation was titled: Improving Methamphetamine Treatment Through Cognitive Enhancement and Better Decision-Making. Dr. Vocci also spoke to the Psychiatry residents at the University of Hawaii on December 9, 2005 on neuroimaging technologies (PET/ SPECT/MRI).

Dr. Frank Vocci attended the ACNP meeting in Waikoloa, Hawaii. He was a discussant at a panel session titled: Novel Pharmacological Approaches to the Treatment of Drug Addiction: Animal and Human Studies. Drs. Laura Peoples, Bert Weiss, Peter Kalivas, and Charles O'Brien spoke at the session.

Dr. Ivan Montoya, DPMCDA, co-chaired with Mike Sesma from NIMH at Grant Writing workshop at the Latino Mental Health Conference, in Princeton, New Jersey.

Dr. Ivan Montoya participated in the NIMH workshop on Tobacco Use and Cessation in Psychiatric Disorders, in Bethesda, MD.

On October 24, 2005, Dr. Nathan M. Appel of DPMCDA chaired a session entitled "How High, Understanding Addiction" at the Bridging Science & Culture to Improve Drug Abuse Research in Minority Communities conference in Atlanta, GA.

At the invitation of the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Center for Infectious Disease and Microbiology Translational Research, Dr. Jag Khalsa, DPMCDA, presented a Seminar on Medical /Clinical Consequences of Drug Abuse and Co-occurring Infections Research, funding opportunities, and possible collaborations at NIDA/NIH on December 21, 2005.

At the invitation of School of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Dr. Jag Khalsa, DPMCDA, presented a seminar on Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse and Co-occurring Infections (HIV, HCV) and funding opportunities at NIDA. New projects on drug-drug interactions were discussed/planned.

Dr. Amy Newman, IRP, was invited to give a seminar at the NIH/NIDDK Chemistry Interest Group, in Bethesda, September 2005.

Dr. Santosh Kulkarni, IRP, was invited to give a seminar at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, November 2005.

Dr. Amy Newman was invited to participate in the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 44th Annual meeting in Waikoloa, HI, December 2005.

Dr. Eric Moolchan, IRP, gave the following invited talks: Framing the Risk Benefit Ratio of Pharmacotherapy for Treating Adolescent Addiction, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Toronto, November, 2005; Adolescent Tobacco Addiction: Treatment Relevant Studies for the Addiction Research Foundation Tobacco Transdiciplinary Rounds, Toronto, November, 2005; and Nicotine Replacement and Other Pharmacological Therapies: Focus on Adolescents with Chronic Disorders, St. Jude Hospital Memphis, October, 2005.