Annual Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium on the Cannabinoids

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PROJECT SUMMARY Cannabinoid signaling is composed of Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 and their cognate exogenous and endogenous ligands. Cannabinoid signaling is widely distributed throughout the CNS and periphery and is implicated in a wide variety of important neurobiological processes including regulation of energy homeostasis, learning and memory, motor function, reward, anxiety, and social function. Moreover, use of cannabis has increases over the past decade and is expected to continue to increase in the face of the expanding anti-prohibition movement in the United States. Cannabis use by vulnerable populations and during critical periods, such as adolescence and pregnancy, carry unclear risk and are the focus of intense ongoing scientific investigation. Commensurate with these growing potential public health concerns, research into the fundamental biology of cannabinoids and endogenous cannabinoids related to brain development, function, and pathology are becoming of greater interest to the public, policymakers, researchers and healthcare professionals. Therefore, understanding the neurobiology of cannabinoid signaling could have broad implications for physiological function and the pathophysiology of somatic and neuropsychiatric disorders. The International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) is the only annual scientific meeting devoted to dissemination of scientific information on all aspects of cannabinoid sciences. The ICRS will hold its 31st annual symposium in 2021 and has been an unparalleled success in the field of cannabinoid research. During the previous funding cycle, NIH support has allowed the ICRS to provide substantial travel support to increase trainee attendance at our annual meeting. The student travel grant program will be used to increase the participation of early stage cannabinoid researchers in the ICRS Symposia on the Cannabinoids. Special emphasis has been, and will continue to be, placed on support for individuals traditionally underrepresented in science, including women and U.S. racial and ethnic minorities. In addition to the travel award program, we propose to provide a career development program at each annual ICRS symposium, recognize outstanding predoctoral and postdoctoral student presentations with awards given during each symposium, and publish an abstract book in printed form that will be made available to the public on the ICRS website after the annual symposium. Completion of these aims will continue to invigorate the next generation of cannabinoid scientists by facilitating attendance and presentation of their original research in an open, inclusive, and egalitarian forum and provide networking and mentorship opportunities to young scientists in all areas of cannabinoid research.