Volume 1, Issue 1July 2007
El Faro Staff
Liliane Cambraia Windsor, Ph.D., M.S.W., Editor
Sheila Kaupert,
Newsletter Coordinator
National Office
Jane Brooks, M.Sc., C.M.P.
Website Coordinator
This Month's Contributors
Melissa Alvarado, M.A.
Jason Burrow-Sánchez, Ph.D.
José Cañive, M.D.
Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Ph.D.
Evelio Escamilla
J. Bryan Page, Ph.D.
Juan Peña, Ph.D.
Ulises M. Ricoy, M.A.
Avelardo Valdez, Ph.D.
Liliane C. Windsor, M.S.W.
María Luisa Zúñiga, Ph.D.
National Steering Committee
José Szapocznik, Ph.D., NHSN Chair
Patricia E. Molina, M.D., Ph.D., NHSN Vice Chair
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D.
Margarita Alegría, Ph.D.
Hortensia Amaro, Ph.D.
Hendricks Brown, Ph.D.
Ana Mari Cauce, Ph.D.
Diana Martínez, M.D.
Maria Elena Medina-Mora, Ph.D.
Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D.
Yonette F. Thomas, Ph.D.
Avelardo Valdez, Ph.D.
William Vega, Ph.D.
Volume 1, Issue 1
The International Front
Dr. Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Chair
Since its creation in January 2004, the International Research Collaboration Subcommittee has organized in numerous activities, most of them aimed at increasing international participation at our annual conference. Our intention has been to enrich the quality and diversity of its already strong scientific programs. The response from national and international researches has been very positive and we have made great progress towards defining the role and purpose of international interaction and collaboration within the Network. Our most recent accomplishments and noteworthy news include the following:
- This past year the NHSN redefined its international role in many symbolic and substantive ways. Most notably, rather than preceding the 2006 annual conference with a daylong session of international panels, the “International Pre-conference” program was presented and integrated as part of the scientific program throughout the duration of the conference. This structural change was well received by international and national members and will be repeated in our 2007 conference. International participation in the 2006 conference included three featured speakers, four panel speakers, a breakout session led by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), fifteen poster presentations, and one “New Investigator” presentation. Moreover, five foreign-born scientists were recognized with various National Awards of Excellence, showcasing the achievements of our international members.
- In December 2006, the NHSN contributed to the formalization of REDLA (RED Latino Americana de Investigadores en Drogas). The mission of REDLA is the advancement of drug epidemiology and other research while addressing specific needs in Latin America. The NHSN is in great measure responsible for the birth of REDLA. Nora Volkow, Francisco Cumsille (Coordinator of the Inter-American Observatory on Drugs—CICAD), and a contingent of international investigators met at the 2005 NHSN conference to discuss the “state of the art” of drug addiction research in Latin America. The fundamental outcome of that meeting was the decision to create a network of scientists to exchange information and to collaborate on current drug research in Latin America. On December 10–12, 2006, CICAD hosted the first meeting of REDLA in Cartagena, Colombia. Among the participants of the first REDLA meeting were Antonio Cepeda-Benito (Chair of the NHSN’s International Subcommittee), and Iván Montoya (one of our NHSN Federal Liaisons from NIDA). Our connection with REDLA is likely to continue as their steering committee has indicated an interest in maintaining at least one representative from the NHSN as an institutional member of the REDLA.
- Finally, it is with great pleasure to announce great news about one of our most distinguished members, Dr. María Elena Medina-Mora Icaza. In March 2006, Dr. Medina-Mora became the second woman member of El Colegio Nacional (Mexican Academy of Sciences). In May she was elected to the U.N. International Narcotics Control Board with 42 of a possible 54 votes in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). She will participate as a member of the board for a five-year term beginning on March 1, 2007. These incredible and well deserved honors were followed later in the year by being recognized in Mexico for her “notable work in the area of drug addiction and mental health” as La Mujer del Año 2006. I could go on but at this point I just want to say, María Elena, you made us proud!
NEW NIDA INVEST Fellowship with the CTN
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has an exciting new opportunity for drug abuse researchers. The NIDA International Program and the National Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network (CTN) are joining forces to offer INVEST Fellowships to non-U.S. scientists who will work with a mentor affiliated with one of the CTN Regional Research Training Centers. The fellowship is fully funded by NIDA. For more information, please go to: http://www.international.drugabuse.gov