IBANGS Annual Meeting Support

描述（由申请人提供）：国际行为与神经遗传学学会（IBANGS）是一个年轻的学会，致力于解释行为和神经遗传学对个体差异的大脑机制。成员们采用了全方位的模型系统，包括神经网络建模、秀丽隐门线虫、黑胃虫、啮齿动物、非人类灵长类动物和人类。遗传方法的应用范围很广，包括基因功能的多元统计分析，基因表达阵列/蛋白质组学分析，基因靶向研究（随机和靶向诱变），嵌合体研究，选择性育种和近交系，以及基因发现方法，包括主要基因和数量性状位点的连锁和关联分析。成员包括教职员工、博士后研究员、研究生和来自不同学科的医学生。该小组自1997年以来已经召开了7次会议，现在每年召开一次完全独立的会议。IBANGS不断吸引新成员，每届年会的参与者都在增加。最近结束的2005年6月9日至12日在西班牙锡切斯举行的会议吸引了100人参加

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society (IBANGS) is a young society dedicated to explication of brain mechanisms underlying behavioral and neurogenetic contributions to individual differences. Members employ a full range of model systems, including neural network modeling, C. Elegans, D. Melanogaster, rodents, non-human primates and humans. Genetic methods employed range widely, including multivariate statistical analyses of gene function, gene expression arrays/proteomics analyses, and gene targeting studies (random and targeted mutagenesis), studies of chimeras, selectively bred and inbred strains, and gene finding methods including linkage and association analyses of major genes and quantitative trait loci. Members include faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and medical students in a wide variety of disciplines. The group has met 7 times since 1997 and now meets annually as a fully independent conference. IBANGS continues to attract new members, and each annual meeting has seen an increase in participants. The recently completed meeting June 9-12, 2005, in Sitges, Spain, attracted 100 meeting participants. The third and final meeting to be supported by the current R13 award will be held in Vancouver BC, Canada, May 19-22, 2006. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has provided the bulk of the funding for the current R13 since 2003, and additional support has been provided by the National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and National Institute of Mental Health. The society's journal, Genes, Brain and Behavior (Blackwell Publishing Ltd.), is now published eight times per year by the Society. This journal is entering its fourth year, is indexed by PubMed and has achieved impact factors of 2.864 and 3.846 in its first two years, placing it 41st among 198 neuroscience journals. Subscription to the journal is a benefit of IBANGS membership. Neurobehavioralgenetics has proven to be a vital research tool in the areas of alcoholism, mental health, child development, and human aging. Historically, studies in those areas have been represented in each of the scientific programs for IBANGS meetings to date. Support is sought to defray travel expenses for 20 students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty each year. From this group of 20 young scientists, 2 outstanding graduate students, 1 outstanding post-doc, and 1 outstanding junior faculty member are chosen to present talks, and they are invited to submit their papers to Genes, Brain and Behavior. This young society presents an opportunity to attract a core group of young investigators during their formative years to neurobehavioral genetics and the pursuit of research improving human health.