2024 Alcohol and the Nervous System Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

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Project Summary/Abstract This R13 application requests support for the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and the associated GRS on Alcohol and the Nervous System that will take place in February 2024 and 2026 meetings at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, TX. It seeks to build on the previous successes of the Alcohol and the Nervous System GRCs as this meeting has become critical for budding basic and translational alcohol researchers. It also provides a forum for interactions between trainees, early career and senior and established scientists and one that is highly valuable for exchange of new idea and concepts. The main goal of this meeting is to promote meaningful discussion of research developments, build new scientific collaborations, and move forward the next generation of scientific advances in alcohol neuroscience research. Another goal is to integrate preclinical and clinical alcohol research across multiple domains to further enrich the advancement of knowledge regarding translational and clinical neuroscience of alcohol. To accomplish these goals, we propose: 1) To provide a forum to promote open discussion of cutting-edge research at the forefront of alcohol effects on the nervous system and related neuroscience areas; 2) To introduce breakthrough neuroscience approaches that facilitate the understanding of brain mechanisms driving alcohol drinking and alcohol misuse as well as mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol exposure during development; 3) To promote interaction between young and senior investigators and exchange of ideas that shape the future directions of the alcohol neuroscience community; 4) To foster development of the next generation of diverse group of alcohol researchers by encouraging the participation of students and postdoctoral fellows both in the alcohol and its related research fields. This conference will focus on presentation of cutting-edge unpublished science that is at the forefront of the field. The unique structure of the meeting integrates and encourages discussion within the sessions and provides ample opportunities for exchange of ideas at the poster sessions and during shared meal times. This R13 is important as it will allow support of the registration fees and/or travel support for participants, including, junior investigators, postdoctoral fellows and/or graduate students for the GRC and the associated GRS. Historically, this approach allowed for a high level of participation from trainees making this conference an outstanding networking opportunity that is of great value to career development. The inclusion of a diverse group of trainees and the establishment of an environment that welcomes free exchange of ideas adds tremendous value to the environment of this dynamic conference. This GRC fills a critical need for a continuing meeting that uniquely shares alcohol neuroscience research at the forefront of the field by renowned alcohol researchers and those that are starting their alcohol research careers. We envision the GRC and associated GRS to significantly advance our understanding of the neuroscience of alcohol addiction within a framework intended to have implications and considerations for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.