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Alcohol and the Nervous System

Gordon Research Conference

Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol: Integration of Basic and Clinical Research

February 11 - 16, 2024

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Chairs Rajita Sinha and Joyce Besheer

Vice Chairs Patrick J. Mulholland and Christina M. Gremel

Contact Chairs

Grand Galvez

2024 Seawall Boulevard

Galveston, TX, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Application Information

Applications for this meeting must be submitted by January 14, 2024. Please apply early, as some meetings become oversubscribed (full) before this deadline. If the meeting is oversubscribed, it will be stated here. Note: Applications for oversubscribed meetings will only be considered by the conference chair if more seats become available due to cancellations.

Conference Description

The Alcohol and the Nervous System GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Alcohol and the Nervous System" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Integration of Basic and Clinical Research in Translational Neuroscience Discussion Leaders: Patrick Mulholland (Medical University of South Carolina, United States) and Christina Gremel (University of California, San Diego, United States)
7:40 pm - 7:55 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:55 pm - 8:25 pm	George Koob (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, United States) "The Alcohol Use Disorder 3 Stage Cycle, 3 Domain, 3 Neurocircuit Framework: A Catalyst for Translational Research"
8:25 pm - 8:35 pm	Discussion
8:35 pm - 8:50 pm	General Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pm	Paul Kenny (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States) "Cholinergic Mechanisms of Alcohol Reinforcement"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Alcohol Neuroplasticity, Stress Sensitivity, and Motivation Discussion Leaders: Leandro Vendruscolo (National Institute on Drug Abuse, United States) and Markus Heilig (Linkoping University, Sweden)
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am	Jeff Weiner (Wake Forest University School of Medicine, United States) "Sexually Dimorphic Effects of Adolescent Social Isolation in Long Evans Rats: Possible Implications for Behavioral and Neural Risk Factors for Alcohol Use Disorder"
9:25 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:45 am	Cody Siciliano (Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, United States) "Trigeminal Circuits for Detection of Chemical Threats Dictate Ethanol Preference"
9:45 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:00 am	Stephanie Wemm (Yale School of Medicine, United States) "Real-World Approaches for Examining Alcohol-Related Changes in Stress Physiology"
10:00 am - 10:05 am	Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Late-Breaking Topic
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:10 am	Jessica Barson (Drexel University College of Medicine, United States) "Put a Kap on It: Differential Effects of the Kappa Opioid Receptor in the Nucleus Accumbens on Ethanol Drinking and Affective Behavior"
11:10 am - 11:15 am	Discussion
11:15 am - 11:30 am	Florence Varodayan (Binghamton Unviersity, United States) "Glial Modulators of Alcohol and Stress at mPFC Synapses"
11:30 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 11:50 am	Sara Blaine (Auburn University , United States) "Neurobiological Vulnerabilities Associated with Cue-Induced Drinking"
11:50 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:05 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:05 pm - 12:10 pm	Discussion
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The GRC Power Hour™ The GRC Power Hour™ is designed to address diversity and inclusion in the scientific workplace by providing a safe environment for informal and meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages. The program supports the professional growth of all members of our communities, including ethnicity, race and/or gender identity by providing an open forum for discussion and mentoring. Organizers: Angela Ozburn (Oregon Health and Science University, United States) and Heather Richardson (University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States)
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Consequences of Alcohol Exposure During Development Discussion Leaders: Donita Robinson (University of North Carolina, United States) and Sara Jo Nixon (University of Florida, United States)
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 7:55 pm	Susan Tapert (University of California San Diego, United States) "How Does Alcohol Use Influence Adolescent Neurodevelopment?"
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:20 pm	Rajesh Miranda (Texas A&M University, School of Medicine, United States) "Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Health Outcomes And Resiliency Across the Lifespan"
8:20 pm - 8:25 pm	Discussion
8:25 pm - 8:40 pm	Scott Parnell (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States) "Genetic Factors Underlying Susceptibility to Prenatal Alcohol Exposure"
8:40 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:00 pm	Marisa Silveri (McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States) "Translational Integration of Preclinical and Clinical Neuroscience Research: Understanding Adolescence and the Impacts of Alcohol"
9:00 pm - 9:05 pm	Discussion
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Anna Radke (Miami University, United States) "Infant Trauma and Adolescent Alcohol Exposure Combine to Model Comorbid AUD and PTSD"
9:15 pm - 9:20 pm	Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Novel Molecules and Therapeutics for Alcohol Use Disorder Discussion Leaders: Barbara Mason (Scripps Research, United States) and Danny Winder (Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, United States)
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am	Andrew Lawrence (Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, Australia) "Cholinergic Dysregulation as a Treatment Target for Alcohol use Disorder"
9:25 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:50 am	Jennifer Thomas (San Diego State University, United States) "Interventions for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders"
9:50 am - 9:55 am	Discussion
9:55 am - 10:10 am	Max Joffe (University of Pittsburgh, United States) "Modulating Prefrontal Cortex Inhibitory Circuits to Attenuate Drinking and Associated Affective Behaviors"
10:10 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:30 am	Carolina Haass-Koffler (Brown University, United States) "Inhibition of Adenosine Receptors as a new Target to Develop Medication for Alcohol use Disorder"
10:30 am - 10:35 am	Discussion
10:35 am - 11:05 am	Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:25 am	Dorit Ron (University of California, San Francisco, United States) "Alcohol and Brain Glycolysis – A Journey Full of Surprises"
11:25 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:50 am	Sachin Patel (Northwestern University, United States) "Endocannabinoid Modulation of Alcohol Withdrawal-Associated Hyperalgesia in Mice"
11:50 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:05 pm	Verica Milivojevic (Yale University School of Medicine, United States) "Pregnenolone Effects on Alcohol Craving, Stress Biology and Clinical Outcomes"
12:05 pm - 12:10 pm	Discussion
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Alcohol, Neuroimmune and Immune Interactions Discussion Leaders: Michael Miles (Virginia Commonwealth University, United States) and Lara Ray (UCLA, United States)
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 7:55 pm	Marisa Roberto (The Scripps Research Institute, United States) "Targeting Neuroimmune Mechanisms in Alcohol Use Disorder"
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:15 pm	Leon Coleman (UNC-CH Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, United States) "Microglia Promote Alcohol-Induced Hyperkateifia and Progression of Alzheimer's Pathology"
8:15 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:40 pm	Patricia Molina (LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, United States) "Neuroimmune Mechanisms of Alcohol, Traumatic, and Infectious Stressor; Not a Black and White Story"
8:40 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	Ansel Hillmer (Yale School of Medicine, United States) "Imaging Brain Immune Function and Alcohol Use"
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Cellular, Molecular and System Level Effects of Alcohol Discussion Leaders: Christopher Lapish (Indiana University School of Medicine, United States) and Graeme Mason (Yale University, United States)
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am	Amy Lasek (Virginia Commonwealth University, United States) "Neuroimmune Transcriptional Mechanisms in Alcohol Use Disorder"
9:25 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:50 am	Brian Mathur (University of Maryland School of Medicine, United States) "Alcohol Modulation of Striatal Inhibition"
9:50 am - 9:55 am	Discussion
9:55 am - 10:10 am	Natalie Zahr (Stanford University, United States) "Blood Marker Correlates of Brain MRI Signal Intensities"
10:10 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	Wei Lu (NINDS, NIH, United States) "Regulation of Alcohol Action in the Brain by a GABA_A Receptor Auxiliary Subunit"
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	Kimberly Nixon (The University of Texas at Austin, United States) "Alcohol-Induced Microglia Dysfunction: Snapshots Along the Lifespan"
11:20 am - 11:25 am	Discussion
11:25 am - 11:45 am	Zoe McElligott (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States) "Manipulating the Neurotensin System: Alcohol and Motivated Behaviors"
11:45 am - 11:50 am	Discussion
11:50 am - 12:05 pm	Reginald Cannady (North Carolina A&T State University, United States) "Probing Inhibitory Control of Alcohol Seeking in a Model of Dependence"
12:05 pm - 12:10 pm	Discussion
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Alcohol and Gut-Brain Interactions Discussion Leaders: Changhai Cui (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, United States) and W. Kyle Simmons (Oklahoma State University, United States)
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 7:55 pm	Anders Fink-Jensen ( Mental Health Services Capital Region of Copenhagen and University of Copenhagen, Denmark) "The Role of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) in Alcohol Use Disorders - Preclinical and Clinical Evidence"
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:15 pm	Mehdi Farokhnia (NIDA and NIAAA , NIH, United States) "Gut-Brain Neuropeptides as Treatment Targets for Alcohol use Disorder"
8:15 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:35 pm	M. Yanina Pepino (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States) "Decoding Alcohol's Effects on Gut-Brain Dynamics: Insights from Metabolic Surgeries"
8:35 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 8:55 pm	Yuval Silberman (Penn State College of Medicine, United States) "Integration of Central and Peripheral Signaling Systems in Alcohol Intake Models"
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm	Late-Breaking Topic
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Discuss Future Dates and Venue; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Alcohol Neurobehavioral Adaptations and Cognitive and Affective Effects Discussion Leaders: Sara Jones (Wake Forest University School of Medicine, United States) and Edith Sullivan (Stanford University School of Medicine, United States)
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am	Howard Becker (Medical University of South Carolina, United States) "Chronic Alcohol and Stress Produce Deficits in Behavioral Flexibility"
9:25 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:45 am	Raag Airan (Stanford University, United States) "Ultrasonic Drug Uncaging for Targeted Neuro-Pharmacology: Applications for Substance Abuse"
9:45 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:05 am	Anel Jaramillo (University of Kentucky, United States) "Dissecting Neuronal Pathways Driving Negative Affective Disturbances in Alcohol Abstinence"
10:05 am - 10:10 am	Discussion
10:10 am - 10:20 am	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
10:20 am - 10:25 am	Discussion
10:25 am - 10:55 am	Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:15 am	Vijay Ramchandani (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, United States) "Neurofunctional Domains Mapping the 3Rs of Alcohol's Effects: Reward, Relief and Regulation"
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:35 am	Nikki Crowley (Pennsylvania State University, United States) "The Neuroscience of Neuropeptides: What is Somatostatin Doing in the Prefrontal Cortex?"
11:35 am - 11:40 am	Discussion
11:40 am - 11:50 am	Elizabeth Goldfarb (Yale University School of Medicine, United States) "Memory Biases Associated with Harmful Drinking Behavior in Humans"
11:50 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:05 pm	Short Talk Selected from Poster Abstracts
12:05 pm - 12:10 pm	Discussion
12:10 pm - 12:30 pm	General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Alcohol Genetics, Epigenetics and Individual Differences Discussion Leaders: Ke Xu (Yale School of Medicine, United States) and David Lovinger (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, United States)
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 7:50 pm	Cindy Ehlers (Scripps Research, United States) "Translational Studies in Adolescent Alcohol Exposure: Sleep, Suicide and Genetic/Epigenetic Findings"
7:50 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:10 pm	Arpana Agrawal (Washington University School of Medicine, United States) "Alcohol Use and Use Disorders: Insights from Genomewide Association Studies"
8:10 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:30 pm	Subhash Pandey (Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, United States) "Neuroepigenetics of Alcohol Use Disorder: Mechanisms, Phenotypes, and Treatment"
8:30 pm - 8:35 pm	Discussion
8:35 pm - 8:50 pm	Robert Messing (The University of Texas at Austin, United States) "Chronic Alcohol Perturbs the "Astro-Some""
8:50 pm - 8:55 pm	Discussion
8:55 pm - 9:05 pm	Sean Farris (University of Pittsburgh, United States) "Studying the Transcriptome for Alcohol Use Disorder"
9:05 pm - 9:10 pm	Discussion
9:10 pm - 9:25 pm	General Discussion
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Closing Remarks
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1R13AA031419-01 . The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Poster Information

Poster sessions are an integral part of the our conferences, and offer all conferees an opportunity to discuss their research.

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Diversity Funding

Financial assistance is available for qualified applicants through the GRC Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority Fellowship Program. This program provides a grant to underrepresented minority graduate students, postdocs, faculty and scientists to help fund their attendance at their first GRC meeting. Learn more.

Registration Fees

Conferee Single Room:

$1,605.00

Conferee Shared Room:

$1,360.00

Conferee Off-Site:

$960.00

Guest Single Room:

$1,415.00

Guest Shared Room:

$1,170.00

Guest Off-Site:

$770.00

Child 4-12 yrs Shared Room:

$586.00

Child 4-12 yrs Off-Site:

$386.00

Child Under 4 yrs Shared Room:

Free

Child Under 4 yrs Off-Site:

Free

Additional Fee Info

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