Investigadores

In previous posts I have described some of the very exciting science presented at NIDA’s mini-Convention in conjunction with the Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans in October. There was too much research to mention it all, but I will highlight one additional presentation, by Pier Vincenzo Piazza. Piazza, director of Neurocentre Magendie, a multidisciplinary neurobiology research center that is part of INSERM, France’s equivalent to the NIH, gave an invited address in a special session to promote collaborations in drug abuse and addiction research between our two countries.

Much exciting neuroscience research in the last few years concerns the non-neural cells called glia. Scientists once thought they mainly played a supporting role in the brain, but we are now learning that glia do much, much more. Three sessions in NIDA’s Mini-Convention at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in New Orleans on October 12 showcased new research on glia with direct or indirect implications for addiction research. I want to highlight just a few of the fascinating talks I attended on this subject.

Brain Awareness Week begins March 12^th, and among many nationwide activities, NIH scientists will be teaching young people about the amazing human brain at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, MD. While we think of Brain Awareness Week as an educational opportunity for children, it is a good time to remind us all about recent advances in neuroscience, and how brain research is helping us understand, prevent, and treat drug abuse and addiction.