The 2009 GRC on Catecholamines will focus on cutting-edge developments in catecholamine research. In recent years, catecholamines have been the focus of investigations using a broad range of approaches from molecular biology to behavior and clinical studies. One of the characteristics of the field is that neuronal systems using catecholamines have much in common, although investigators who focus on particular catecholamines or on different actions of the same catecholamine are often unaware of complementary aspects of catecholamine research. It is increasingly apparent that continued progress will require increasingly integrated approaches in studies of catecholamine biology, function and dysfunction. Thus, molecular biologists are being drawn to more integrated systems approaches and behavioral biologists are exploiting many molecular approaches. In addition, because DA, NE and epinephrine serve as neurotransmitters and hormones throughout the phylogenetic scale, studies are possible in simple organisms where powerful genetic tools are available. Finally, very recent work allows the elucidation of catecholamine neurotransmission during natural animal behaviors, an important focus of the 2009 sessions. Thus, in the 2009 meeting talks will range from very basic research on mechanisms of catecholamine neurotransmission to talks integrating catecholamine physiology, pharmacology, neuroendocrinology, and behavior. Furthermore, the past few years have witnessed a tremendous advance in our understanding of mental disorders, including psychosis and drug abuse. Sophisticated behavioral measures combined with elegant molecular, cellular and systems approaches, along with powerful imaging studies in humans, have produced a large number of high-profile reports that are likely to have a positive impact on health issues. For example, the biological bases of reward processes are implicating several catecholamines and a variety of brain regions and signaling mechanisms. We plan to highlight these new advances by including some of the researchers at the forefront of this field (and many of them can be considered junior scientists) in an attempt to provide a unique opportunity to discuss recent advances in the understanding of how catecholamine systems may contribute to the pathophysiology and treatment of those conditions.

For the 2009 GRC on Catecholamines, in Honor of Irwin J. Kopin, 2 speakers will be chosen for the ‘Young Investigators’ session, Award winners will receive up to $2500 for travel expenses. If you would like to be considered to speak in this session you must be 5 years or less post-PhD. Eligible applicants should send an abstract of less than 250 words describing your presentation, and an NIH Biosketch, and have 1 letter of reference sent by email to: Regina Carelli at rcarelli@unc.edu before May 1, 2009.