CELLULAR BIOLOGY OF ADDICTION
August 7 - 13, 2007
Application Deadline: March 15, 2007

Instructors:
Christopher Evans, University of California, Los Angeles
Mark Von Zastrow, University of California, San Francisco

Drug addiction is the most costly neuropsychiatric disorder faced by our nation. Acute and repeated exposure to drugs produces neuroadaption and long-term memory of the experience, but the cellular and molecular processes involved are only partially understood. The primary objective of the proposed workshop is to provide an intense dialogue of the fundamentals, state-of-the-art advances and major gaps in the cell and molecular biology of drug addiction.Targeted to new or experienced investigators, the workshop will combine formal presentations and informal discussions to convey the merits and excitement of cellular and molecular approaches to drug addiction research. With the advent of genomics and proteomics, an extraordinary opportunity now exists to develop comprehensive models of neuroadaptative processes fundamental to addiction, withdrawal, craving, and relapse to drug use and to brain function, in general. A range of disciplines and topics will be represented, including noninvasive brain imaging to identify drug targets and adaptive processes; neuroadaptative processes at the molecular and cellular level, neural networks and their modulation, the relevance of genotype to susceptibility and drug response; tolerance and adaptation at the cellular level and approaches to exploiting the daunting volume generated by neuroinformatics. This workshop will provide an integrated view of current and novel research on neuroadaptive responses to addiction, foster discussion on collaboration and integration, provide critical information needed to construct a model of addiction as a disease and novel molecular targets for biological treatments. Beyond the plane of scientific endeavor, the information is vital for formulating public policy and for enlightening the public on the neurobiological consequences of drug use and addiction. The workshop is designed to generate interest in this level of analysis, open conduits for collaborations and present novel routes to investigating the neurobiology of addictive drugs.

Faculty List for the 2007 course:
Huda Akil, University of Michigan
Wade Berrettini, University of Pennsylvania
Robert Edwards, University of California, San Francisco
David Goldman, NIH
Martin Iguchi, University of California, Los Angeles
Peter Kalivas, Medical University of South Carolina
Brigitte Kieffer, Univesity of Strasbourg, France
Georg Koob, Scripps Institute
Mary-Jeane Kreek, Rockefeller University
Angus Nairn, Yale University
Eric Nestler, University of Texas Southwestern at Dallas
Marina Picciotto, Yale University
John Pintar, Rutgers University
Wolfgang Sadee, Ohio State University
John Williams, Vollum Institute/Oregon Health Sciences Univ.
Rob Williams, University of Tennessee
RenPing Zhou, Rutgers University
Jon-Kar Zubieta, University of Michigan

The course will be held at the Laboratory’s Banbury Conference Center located on the north shore of Long Island. All participants stay within walking distance of the Center, close to tennis court, pool and private beach.

This course is supported with funds provided by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Scholarship funds are available for partial support of tuition, room and board on a merit basis.

Cost (including board and lodging): $2,035
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