Update on the NIDA Intramural Program

1. Update on the NIDA Intramural Program

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

3. Drs. Newman and Shippenberg have been made Section Chiefs and have been given greatly expanded space. Their expertise is as follows: Dr. Shippenberg - Kappa Opioid Mechanisms and Receptor/Transporter Trafficking Dr. Newman - Medicinal Chemistry • Drs. Gardner, Shaham and Wang have also been made Section Chiefs in their respective areas of science. Their expertise is as follows: Dr. Gardner --- Medications Discovery Dr. Shaham --- Neurobiology of Relapse Dr. Wang --- Neural Protection and Regeneration, Trophic Factors

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

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

6. After several external reviews by independent groups we have reorganized the clinical program to enhance its effectiveness and to create operational efficiencies. Specifically, 1) we have added dedicated support staff to help administer the program; 2) established a medical policy committee and a physicians peer review group; 3) adopted a clinical research working group which includes all human research P.I.’s and defined the goal and format of our weekly clinical rounds and 4) we have recruited four new staff clinicians. In addition, we are implementing a pilot recruitment program in an effort to target, in a dedicated manner, opportunities to recruit hard to find research volunteers. • Most importantly, we are recruiting for a Clinical Director who will devote 100% time to managing the human research program. As a consequence of our external review we recognize this position is a full time job.

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

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

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