Nebraska Symposium

61st Nebraska Symposium on Motivation:

Genes and the Motivation to Use Substances

25-26 April 2013

Location: University of Nebraska, City Campus, Nebraska Union Auditorium

Coordinated by: Scott F. Stoltenberg, Ph.D.


Overview

People are motivated to use substances and, in general, most people who use them do not develop a substance use disorder (SUD).  Why is it that some individuals develop problems with substance use while others do not?  There is strong evidence that genetic factors influence a person’s risk for developing an SUD.  Individual differences in the motivation to use substances are at least in part associated with genetic differences between people. Research into the genetics underlying the development of SUDs is a critical contributor to our understanding of the biopsychosocial factors that influence substance use. In the past two decades, genetic research on SUDs has grown tremendously.   An important goal of this genetic work is to take this new information from the laboratory to the clinic for use in personalized medicine.  The 61st Annual Nebraska Symposium on Motivation will address critical issues in relations among genes and the motivation to use substances.

Speakers

Symposium Schedule

Thursday, April 25, 2013
8:00 – 9:00 Registration & Refreshments
9:00 – 9:30 Introduction
9:30 – 10:30 Matt McGue, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
"The Adolescent Origins of Substance Use Disorders: A Behavioral Genetic Perspective"
10:30 – 10:45 Questions/Discussion
10:45 – 11:00 Morning Break
11:00 – 12:00 Robert Zucker, Ph.D., University of Michigan
"Genes, Brain, Behavior and Context: The Developmental Matrix of Addictive Behavior"
12:00 – 12:15 Questions/Discussion
12:15 – 1:45 Lunch Break
1:45 – 2:45 Arpana Agrawal, Ph.D., Washington University, St. Louis
"Has the Genetics of Cannabis Involvement Gone to Pot?"
2:45 – 3:00 Questions/Discussion
3:00 – 3:15 Afternoon Break
3:15 – 5:00 Poster Session & Reception

Friday, April 26, 2013
8:00 – 9:30 Registration & Refreshments
9:30 – 10:30 John C. Crabbe, Ph.D., Oregon Health & Sciences University
"Rodent Models of Genetic Contributions to Alcohol Abuse"
10:30 – 10:45 Questions/Discussion
10:45 – 11:00 Morning Break
11:00 – 12:00 David Goldman, M.D., National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
"Discovery of Genes Influencing Addiction by Deep Sequencing Humans and Model Organisms"
12:00 – 12:15 Questions/Discussion
12:15 – 1:45 Lunch Break
1:45 – 2:45 Robert Philibert, M.D., Ph.D., University of Iowa
"The DNA Methylation Signature of Smoking: An Emerging Archetype for the Identification of Biomarkers for Behavioral Illness"
2:45 – 2:55 Questions/Discussion
3:05 – 4:05 Robert Zucker, Ph.D., University of Michigan
"Genes, Brain, Behavior and Context: The Developmental Matrix of Addictive Behavior"
4:05 – 4:15 Questions/Discussion
4:15 Closing

If you have questions about the Symposium, please direct them to Scott Stoltenberg (sstoltenberg2@unl.edu; 402-472-7861)