Update on the Update on the NIDA Intramural NIDA Intramural

ProgramProgram

We have recruited Dr. Elliot Stein as Chief, We have recruited Dr. Elliot Stein as Chief, Neuroimaging Research Branch who is Neuroimaging Research Branch who is introducing fMRI into the existing IRP introducing fMRI into the existing IRP imaging program. We have purchased imaging program. We have purchased human and animal fMRI magnets in an human and animal fMRI magnets in an effort to broaden and enhance our imaging effort to broaden and enhance our imaging research focus. Dr. Stein is recruiting for a research focus. Dr. Stein is recruiting for a Chief of the PET research section so the Chief of the PET research section so the IRP will have a robust and fully integrated IRP will have a robust and fully integrated imaging program. imaging program.

Drs. Newman and Shippenberg have been made Section Drs. Newman and Shippenberg have been made Section Chiefs and have been given greatly expanded space. Their Chiefs and have been given greatly expanded space. Their expertise is as follows:expertise is as follows:

Dr. ShippenbergDr. Shippenberg - Kappa Opioid Mechanisms and - Kappa Opioid Mechanisms and Receptor/TransporterReceptor/Transporter

TraffickingTraffickingDr. NewmanDr. Newman - Medicinal Chemistry- Medicinal Chemistry

Drs. Gardner, Shaham and Wang have also been made Section Drs. Gardner, Shaham and Wang have also been made Section Chiefs in their respective areas of science. Their expertise is Chiefs in their respective areas of science. Their expertise is as follows:as follows:

Dr. Gardner --- Medications DiscoveryDr. Gardner --- Medications DiscoveryDr. Shaham --- Neurobiology of RelapseDr. Shaham --- Neurobiology of RelapseDr. Wang --- Neural Protection and Regeneration, Dr. Wang --- Neural Protection and Regeneration,

Trophic FactorsTrophic Factors

We have recently recruited Drs. Carl We have recently recruited Drs. Carl Lupica and Yihong Yang as tenure track Lupica and Yihong Yang as tenure track investigators, after national searches. investigators, after national searches. Each came from the extramural community Each came from the extramural community and each had RO1 support with and each had RO1 support with outstanding priority scores. Dr. Lupica outstanding priority scores. Dr. Lupica works in the area of in vitro brain slice works in the area of in vitro brain slice electrophysiology and confocal electrophysiology and confocal microscopy. Dr. Yang works in the area of microscopy. Dr. Yang works in the area of MR physics and has developed a number of MR physics and has developed a number of new and innovative data acquisition new and innovative data acquisition paradigms. paradigms.

Increasing our focus on Increasing our focus on neurodegeneration research we neurodegeneration research we created the Molecular Neuropsychiatry created the Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, which is headed by Research Branch, which is headed by Dr. Jean Cadet. We believe this Dr. Jean Cadet. We believe this organizational change will encourage organizational change will encourage collaboration and integration of the collaboration and integration of the IRP research programs in this area. IRP research programs in this area. Dr. Wang’s section is in this new Dr. Wang’s section is in this new branch. branch.

After several external reviews by independent groups we After several external reviews by independent groups we have reorganized the clinical program to enhance its have reorganized the clinical program to enhance its effectiveness and to create operational efficiencies. effectiveness and to create operational efficiencies. Specifically, 1) we have added dedicated support staff to Specifically, 1) we have added dedicated support staff to help administer the program; 2) established a medical help administer the program; 2) established a medical policy committee and a physicians peer review group; 3) policy committee and a physicians peer review group; 3) adopted a clinical research working group which adopted a clinical research working group which includes all human research P.I.’s and defined the goal includes all human research P.I.’s and defined the goal and format of our weekly clinical rounds and 4) we have and format of our weekly clinical rounds and 4) we have recruited four new staff clinicians. In addition, we are recruited four new staff clinicians. In addition, we are implementing a pilot recruitment program in an effort to implementing a pilot recruitment program in an effort to target, in a dedicated manner, opportunities to recruit target, in a dedicated manner, opportunities to recruit hard to find research volunteers. hard to find research volunteers.

Most importantly, we are recruiting for a Clinical Most importantly, we are recruiting for a Clinical Director who will devote 100% time to managing the Director who will devote 100% time to managing the human research program. As a consequence of our human research program. As a consequence of our external review we recognize this position is a full time external review we recognize this position is a full time job. job.

In addition, we have appointed Dr. Robert In addition, we have appointed Dr. Robert Conley as the new chair for the IRB. Dr. Conley as the new chair for the IRB. Dr. Conley comes to us with a strong Conley comes to us with a strong background as IRB Chair, University of background as IRB Chair, University of Maryland and as the ethics consultant for Maryland and as the ethics consultant for this function. We have instituted a policy of this function. We have instituted a policy of term appointments NTE 3 yrs and have term appointments NTE 3 yrs and have rotated old members from the roster. We rotated old members from the roster. We have appointed an outside nurse, a have appointed an outside nurse, a recovered addict and two African-American recovered addict and two African-American community representatives as IRB community representatives as IRB members. members.

We have acquired an additional 17,000 sq We have acquired an additional 17,000 sq ft of space in the Triad building, which is ft of space in the Triad building, which is located in close proximity to our main “C” located in close proximity to our main “C” building in order to decompress that building in order to decompress that space, and to create state of the art space, and to create state of the art laboratory space for new, existing, and laboratory space for new, existing, and expanded research programs. In an effort expanded research programs. In an effort to contain future year lease expenses the to contain future year lease expenses the build out for the space was paid up front, build out for the space was paid up front, which allowed us to maximize our which allowed us to maximize our immediate and future financial immediate and future financial opportunities. opportunities.

The NIHBRC project is underway. Our The NIHBRC project is underway. Our projected move in date is July 2006. projected move in date is July 2006. This project provides for a new joint This project provides for a new joint facility for the NIDA IRP and the NIA facility for the NIDA IRP and the NIA IRP (GRC) programs. Once this IRP (GRC) programs. Once this building is complete we will have state building is complete we will have state of the art vivarium and clinical and of the art vivarium and clinical and laboratory space to replace the laboratory space to replace the increasingly problematic “C” building. increasingly problematic “C” building.