Center Line Newsletter

Volume 19, Number 2, June 2008

Bowles CAS Trains Future Leaders

The Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) is pleased to announce the second renewal of its 5-year training grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) that has been funded for over 10 years. The $1.2 million funding will help the Center to build on its well-established research training program, focusing on the molecular and cellular approaches to alcoholism.

Since 1997, Center faculty members have trained nearly 200 students in order to develop the next generation of addiction medicine researchers. Training for our research scientists includes programs in basic laboratory science, addiction biology, neuropharmacology, alcoholic liver disease, alcohol-related birth defects, clinical research, and substance abuse treatment therapy.

CAS Director Fulton Crews, Ph.D., believes the program’s success is based largely on a philosophy that includes the selection of top-quality students, as well as faculty members who share a common goal of providing the best training and experience. “Our multidisciplinary and collaborative faculty provides training in state-of-the-art techniques and an understanding of pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of disease,” said Crews. “Our diverse, coordinated approaches to the study of alcohol and alcoholism attract some of the brightest and motivated candidates from around the world.

“Annual tours of treatment facilities across North Carolina provide our students with a better understanding of the human aspects of addiction. This experience motivates and challenges their intellect in dissecting the causes of alcoholism and finding new targets for treatment and prevention.”
Trainees are strongly encouraged to apply for individual sources of career development funding after one to two years of support on the training grant. Our pre- and post-docs have been very successful in receiving National Research Service (F31 or F32) awards as well as Career Development (K) awards from the NIH. Many of our trainees have also been honored by the Research Society on Alcoholism with the Student Research award, RSA Enoch Gordis Research Recognition award, or the prestigious Young Investigator award.

CAS trainees have gone on to study, teach and develop independent research programs at major colleges and universities across the world. Others are successful professionals in the private sector or in government management of research funding. From the first day in the lab, through every discovery, manuscript and grant application, we work with our trainees to hone their critical thinking skills and develop into competitive scientists who love their work.

“The present era is marked by opportunities to apply unprecedented recent advances in molecular and cellular biology and immunology to alcoholism research and toxicity of alcohol,” said Crews. “We are going to continue to expand our training program and provide our trainees with opportunities to make valuable contributions to addiction medicine.”