Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Substance Use Disorders

The ongoing drug crisis in America attests to the need for more research and more researchers in the substance use disorder (SUD) arena. This competing continuation requests 5 years of support for an annual meeting entitled Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Substance Use Disorders (BBC), which for 16 years has welcomed a broad spectrum of scientists that study and treat SUD (from organic chemists to psychiatrists, from high school students to senior investigators) to San Antonio for two days of engagement that includes the following: 1) a career development workshop (Pathways to Careers in Science); 2) a Plenary Symposium with 4 lectures on an important, contemporary topic in SUD, spanning chemistry to clinical studies; 3) 2 additional invited lectures by well-established investigators; 4) 4 oral communication sessions for presentations predominantly, and in some years exclusively, by students and other early career investigators; 5) 2 poster sessions; 6) cash prizes for oral and poster competition for early career investigators; 7) a lunchtime panel discussion with Q&A; and 8) a banquet dinner with science trivia. The Maharaj Ticku Memorial Travel Fellowship for New Investigators supports a junior faculty member who is not more than 4 years beyond postdoctoral training to attend, give an oral presentation, and chair an oral communication session. The registration fee ($400) is waived for travel awardees and significantly discounted ($175) for other presenting early career investigators. The specific aims of BBC are as follows: 1) host a convenient, low-cost, low- threshold, high-quality meeting for young investigators to present their data and interact with a broad group of experts; 2) encourage and recruit young scientists, to pursue a career in SUD research; 3) convene a multidisciplinary group of experts for a symposium on a contemporary, important topic in SUD; and 4 provide a stimulating and supportive environment to foster discussion and collaboration among researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers. Because there are no overlapping concurrent sessions, attendees hear presentations in areas outside their own expertise. This format promotes translational, transdisciplinary conversations leading to creative and unconventional thinking about SUD research and medication development. Multiple years of support through this grant have facilitated the effective planning of future meetings, especially for inviting speakers, soliciting and developing symposia, and raising funds from other sources.