Welcome to the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse
JOSÉ SZAPOCZNIK, PH.D., NHSN CHAIR
What if you brought together, in an ever-expanding and carefully woven network of professional and collegial relationships, the best and brightest scientists and students in the field of Hispanic drug abuse research? What kind of intellectual and scientific synergy could be sparked by the encounter? How would the confluence of languages from different disciplines impact the nature of the scientific discourse? And ultimately, what groundbreaking scientific discoveries might emerge from the research collaborations thus fostered, benefiting Hispanic families and communities across the nation? This is what the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse has set out to demonstrate.
Founded in 2001, we have grown as a professional scientific organization from an initial roster of 53 investigators to over 300 elected members. From the beginning, we were committed to breaking down boundaries within our field, be they the boundaries that limited our thinking to one discipline or model, or be they the boundaries that for so long have defined, derailed or preempted the careers of promising Hispanic scientists. It has been our mission to foster both interdisciplinary and translational research, by promoting dialogue between biologic, social, behavioral and cultural scientists, and by stepping back to look at the field from a broad perspective that follows an idea from the wet lab to the community treatment center, and back again.
The NHSN brings together scientists and students from the US, Latin America and Spain to promote new discoveries in Hispanic drug abuse research and to train and mentor the most promising young scientists to succeed in drug abuse research careers. To this end, the Network implements an interdisciplinary annual international scientific conference focusing on cutting-edge scientific issues of critical importance to Hispanic communities and to the drug abuse research field, and an intensive Summer Research Training Institute for graduate students and early career scientists. Our membership roster reads like a Who's Who of the nation's top Hispanic scientists conducting research in drug abuse and related fields. Through the Network, these distinguished scientists serve as mentors and role models to a select cohort of predominantly Hispanic students and early career scientists, who themselves represent the best and brightest in the field.
I would like to thank our visionary National Steering Committee, our hard-working Subcommittees, our wise and selfless federal liaisons, our outstanding, talented, and seemingly tireless National Office team, Sheila Kaupert and Jane Brooks, for the leadership, devotion and grace that they bring to the Network every day.
And I join them all in thanking you, our extraordinary members. Our research scientists, for generously sharing your knowledge and mentoring the next generation of scientists. Our early career scientists, for reenergizing us with your talent and with your eagerness to learn and contribute. And all of you, for your commitment to doing the work that must be done for the sake of our communities, and for bringing your uncommon gifts of self and science to this truly unique and inspiring Network.