Scientific Director for the Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research Selected for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
David Lovinger, Ph.D., has been selected as the Scientific Director of the Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Dr. Lovinger obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and his Ph.D. in psychology from Northwestern University. He conducted postdoctoral research at NIAAA before joining the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1991. In 2001, Dr. Lovinger was recruited back to NIAAA and became Chief of the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience. He has served as Acting Scientific Director of NIAAA since 2022. Dr. Lovinger’s research focuses on the neurobiological bases of behavior, how alcohol affects the connections between neurons, and the neural mechanisms involved in alcohol use and alcohol use disorder.
In his role as Scientific Director, Dr. Lovinger will provide scientific, programmatic, and administrative leadership for the Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research. He will also be responsible for promoting an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, encouraging collaboration, facilitating mentoring and training, and conducting innovative research. “I am honored to be chosen for this position,” Dr. Lovinger said. “I look forward to working with the members of this great institute to build the future of intramural research.”
In this Issue
Incorporating Harm Reduction Into Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery
For many years, complete abstinence from alcohol consumption was viewed as the most effective way to recover from alcohol use disorder (AUD) and was a primary outcome of AUD treatment. A large body of evidence, however, suggests that treatment and recovery strategies that reduce heavy alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences without complete abstinence can be effective for mitigating the harms associated with alcohol misuse for many individuals.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Launches an Educational Virtual Reality Experience for Teens
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recently launched Alcohol and Your Brain, a virtual reality (VR) module to engage and educate young audiences about how alcohol affects the brain. Designed for Oculus Quest, Quest 2, or Meta Quest Pro headsets, this activity takes users on a virtual rollercoaster ride through the brain, with stops to describe alcohol’s harmful effects on the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum.
Empowering Health Care Professionals To Provide Evidence-Based Care
Since its release just over a year ago, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Healthcare Professional’s Core Resource on Alcohol (HPCR) has been the focus of ongoing efforts to empower health care professionals in providing evidence-based alcohol-related care.
The Beauty of #SciArt
“Things I’ve seen through a microscope” is the straightforward way Margaret (Meg) Davis, Ph.D., describes her X, formerly known was Twitter, channel, @BrainsRus. Dr. Davis is a retired National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) neuroscientist and anatomist, who remains dedicated to tweeting about and sharing her fascination with “#SciArt”—the dazzling and colorful scenes visible thanks to innovations in neuroscientific imaging.
Five Questions With Bin Gao, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief, Laboratory of Liver Diseases, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.