 |
Behavioral Science Interest Group
 Minda Lynch, Ph.D.
Branch Chief of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Research Branch
Mission Statement
A trans-divisional Behavioral Science Interest Group at NIDA is proposed to maximize the institute's investment in cross-cutting areas of behavioral and social sciences research in drug abuse and addiction. The interest group will serve the following functions:
- Serve as a conduit for information exchange, sharing updates in behavioral and social science research activities/programs from outside of NIDA (other ICs, OBSSR, NIH RM, BP and task forces/working groups);
- Provide a forum for trans-disciplinary program activities (FOAs and meeting proposals) on topics of shared interest across divisions, incorporating the diverse scientific perspectives represented at the institute;
- Promote the infusion of discoveries and approaches from emerging, cutting edge disciplines into portfolio development at NIDA (e.g., neuro- and behavioral economics, behavioral genetics, eHealth);
- Serve as a platform for discussion on "new ways of thinking about drug abuse and addiction" (e.g., avoidance behavior? negative reinforcement? punishment?);
- Develop outreach activities aimed at recruiting and retaining behavioral scientists into drug abuse research (especially those at the early career level);
- Stimulate training and collaboration at the intersection of behavioral/social sciences with other disciplines from the biomedical or physical sciences;
- Develop strategies to optimize translational research between animal models and applied/clinical (interventions) research supported by the institute.
The interest group will maintain a website for all active members. This site can serve as a point of reference for outside inquiries about program interest in behavioral and social science research. Members' contact information will be listed, along with their areas of expertise and program responsibility.
Neuroscience Consortium
Cathrine Sasek
Scientist Administrator, Science Policy Branch
Mary Kautz
Program Official
Mission Statement
The mission of the NIDA Neuroscience Consortium is to provide a forum to facilitate the development of neuroscience research programs that bear on NIDA's mission to understand, prevent, and treat drug addiction.
The Consortium membership consists of interested individuals representing all divisions and offices within NIDA, including divisions of basic, clinical, and epidemiological research, review and grants management branches, and policy offices. The Consortium achieves its mission by sponsoring invited speakers at the "cutting edge" of neuroscience research to inform programmatic decisions that set research priorities, organizing symposia and workshops for the scientific community, and providing information and resources at scientific meetings. The public is encouraged to contact the Consortium with ideas to promote the neuroscience mission of NIDA and to locate contacts among the program staff for the development of neuroscience research.
 Neuroscience Consortium's Web Page
Genetics Workgroup
Jonathan D. Pollock, Ph.D.
Chief of Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology Research Branch
Mission Statement
The NIDA Genetics Workgroup is an Institute-wide group of NIDA staff involved in coordinating a variety of activities directed towards the enhancement of NIDA's grant portfolio in the following areas:
- Human genetics
- Population genetics
- Molecular genetics
- Genetic epidemiology
- Molecular epidemiology
- Satistical genetics
- Model genetic organisms
- Genes and development
- Pharmacogenetics
The workgroup strives to 1) develop avenues of research through program announcements and requests for applications, 2) sponsor seminars and speakers to inform NIDA of new areas in genetic research, and 3) develop staff knowledge in areas of genetics research as it pertains to NIDA's overall mission to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.
The elucidation of genetic factors as well as their interactions with behavioral, social, and physical environments and how they relate to specific phenotypes is a critical component in determining addiction vulnerabilities and will ultimately facilitate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Genetics Workgroup's Web Page
Co-morbidity Interest Group
Susan Volman
Program Director, Co-chair
Naimah Weinberg
Co-chair
Mission Statement
Substance use disorders are highly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders and may, in many cases, share common genetic, environmental, and neurobiological causes. This high prevalence of comorbidity cuts across all aspects of NIDA's mission and a coordinated, integrative approach can enhance our scientific approaches to: the biological and behavioral basis of comorbid disorders; nosology and dimensional approaches to diagnosis; gene-environment interplay; phenotyping, targeted medication development; translational treatment and service delivery. The Comorbidity Interest Group brings together a diversity of expertise from all areas of NIDA to integrate new and ongoing research and to work synergistically to promote a dimensional, multidisciplinary perspective on this major challenge to drug abuse research. The Comorbidity Interest Group meets monthly to discuss cutting edge research, plan integrative symposia at national meetings, and develop coordinated responses to requests for information, meetings and initiatives within NIDA.
Child and Adolescent Workgroup
Cheryl Anne Boyce, Ph.D.
Chair
Denise Pintello, Ph.D.
Co-chair
Mission Statement
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is the lead Federal agency for the conduct of basic, clinical, and epidemiological research designed to improve the understanding, treatment, and prevention of drug abuse and addiction and the health consequences of these behaviors. This research is intended to increase knowledge and promote effective strategies to deal with health problems and issues associated with drug abuse. The NIDA mission applies to infants, children, and adolescents to a great extent, and in a variety of ways.
Child and Adolescent Workgroup's Web Page
Women and Sex/Gender Differences Research Group
Cora Lee Wetherington
Chair
Samia Noursi
Co-chair
Mission Statement
The mission of the Women and Sex/Gender Differences Research Group is to promote the conduct, translation, and dissemination of drug abuse research on sex/gender differences and issues specific to women.
Women & Sex/Gender Research Group's Web Page
Nicotine/Tobacco Interest Group
Louise Wideroff
Co-Chair
Debbie Grossman
Co-Chair
Mission Statement
The trans-divisional NIDA Nicotine/Tobacco Interest Group (NTIG) was organized in February 2004 and promotes nicotine- and tobacco-centered communication, collaboration and coordination throughout NIDA. Since nicotine and tobacco research is cross-cutting, NIDA NTIG draws on the interests and expertise found in every Division and Center. In addition to providing a forum for information exchange (e.g., breakthrough research findings, upcoming meetings/seminars, etc.) we also provide programmatic expertise, foster scientific development and interests, and promote new areas of research through the development of scientific meetings, webinars and events. NIDA NTIG also serves as a conduit to the trans-NIH Tobacco and Nicotine Research Interest Group.
Membership is ongoing and new membership is encouraged. Meetings are held quarterly and are webcast for remote viewing. If you are interested in learning more about NIDA NTIG, please contact Louise Wideroff (widerofl@nida.nih.gov) or Debbie Grossman (dgrossma@mail.nih.gov).
Translationally-Oriented Approaches, Devices & Strategies (TOADS) Workgroup
James M. Bjork, Ph.D.
Co-chair
Mission Statement
The TOADS Workgroup promotes the application of state-of-the-art technologies, which are being used successfully in other disciplines, to the study, prevention and treatment of drug abuse; as well as in establishing novel pain treatments with little associated addiction liability .
TOADS Workgroup's Web Page
Epigenetics Interest Group
John Satterlee, Ph.D.
Roadmap Epigenomics Program Co-coordinator
Program Director: Epigenetics, Model Organism Genetics, Functional Genomics
Mission Statement
NIDA Epigenetics Interest Group's mission is to 1. coordinate epigenetics efforts (meetings, initiatives, etc) between NIDA Divisions and Offices and 2. enable NIDA to leverage epigenetics efforts taking place outside of our institute (Roadmap Epigenomics Program, international efforts, etc).
AIDS Interest Group
Diane Lawrence, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Chair
Elizabeth Lambert, M.Sc.
Co-chair
Mission Statement
The mission of the NIDA AIDS Interest Group (AIG) is provide a monthly opportunity for NIDA staff to meet to exchange and learn new scientific information on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse represented by NIDA's divisions (basic neuroscience, clinical and behavioral neuroscience, pharmacological and medical consequences, and epidemiology, prevention, and services research). The AIG seeks to facilitate lively discussions about HIV/AIDS conferences and publications, to improve communications across the divisions about "cutting edge" multidisciplinary research in HIV/AIDS, and to generate innovative ideas for NIDA's HIV/AIDS priorities and initiatives. When topics of shared interest arise, the AIG is able to invite colleagues from other ICs to come join us and enhance the meeting discussions. The AIG agenda includes such topics as: new research opportunities of interest, upcoming meetings and conferences, updates from recent meetings and conferences, new publications and findings, and occasional "papers of the month" for one or two participants to discuss a new paper on HIV/AIDS that may be of wide interest to the group.
Prescription Opioid and Pain Workgroup
Richard A. Denisco, MD, MPH
Medical Officer
Mission Statement
The Prescription Opioid and Pain (POP) Workgroup is a trans-NIDA group organized and approved in 2006 to provide a forum for the scientific and clinical disciplines at NIDA to share current information, new initiatives and progress on the growing problem of prescription drug abuse and its interrelationship with pain and pain treatment.
The problem of pain and prescription drug abuse crosses all the Divisions and Centers at NIDA at both the Bethesda and Baltimore campuses. The POP workgroup encourages all NIDA staff with an interest in this area to participate and contribute their unique knowledge and perspective. The monthly meeting encourage an exchange of ideas
Concerning prescription opioids and their association with pain treatment. Information from the NIH Pain Consortium is discussed, as are ways to coordinate activities with the Pain Consortium. The POP Workgroup also sponsors meeting of topical importance and speakers to inform all interested persons at NIDA of current developments in the field.
All Divisions at NIDA are represented in the workgroup and membership is open to all. The meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at 1:oo pm in the DESPR Conference Room 5th floor Room 5182. Plans are underway to either web-cast or conference call to facilitate participation by intramural staff or those who are telecommuting.
For addition information please contact Richard Denisco at 301.594.4371 or deniscor@nida.nih.gov.
Business Interest Group
Elena Koustova, MBA, Ph.D.
Nicotine Research
American Indian/Alaska Native Coordinating Committee (AIANCC)
Kathy Etz, Ph.D.
Chair
Mission Statement
The AIANCC is an Institute-wide group of NIDA staff that serves to coordinate and expand activities focused on American Indians and Alaska Natives. The mission of the AIANCC is to bring the power of science to bear on drug abuse in AI/AN communities, a population that has shown great health disparities and is underrepresented both in terms of the research that is being conducted and in terms of grant leadership by AI/AN individuals. The coordinating committee works to integrate AIAN activities throughout programs in the Institute and draws on the expertise that is found in all divisions across the Institute. The committee seeks to provide technical assistance and to develop opportunities which will result in a stronger pipeline of individuals entering the field of addiction science. The specific goals of the committee are to:
- Increase research infrastructure, ability to conduct research and engagement in research
- Increase research opportunities
- Increase the data available in this research area
- Disseminate research findings
- Feed the pipeline of investigators
- Increase trust between the community, academics, and funders
- Increase knowledge of NIDA staff, including knowledge regarding the process of conducting research in Indian country and research results
|
|
|
External link, please review our disclaimer here. 
External link, please review our disclaimer here. 
External link, please review our disclaimer here. 
