Dr. Tsung-Ping Su received his Ph.D. degree from State University of New York at Buffalo and trained as a postdoc with Professor Avram Goldstein at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is the chief of the Cellular Pathobiology Section in the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH, at Baltimore, Maryland. He serves as the reviewer of grant applications to the NIH, NSF, and other funding agencies from England, France, Canada,and Israel.

His interests focuses on a protein called the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) that resides specifically at the ER-MITO interface of cells and is implicated in alterations of neuronal structures and in the addiction of cocaine and methamphetamine.

Shao-yu Chen, Ph.D., is a tenured associate professor at the Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology in the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He has conducted alcohol-related birth defects research for 20 years. In his laboratory, a combination of state-of-the-art approaches, including quantitative real-time PCR, RNA interference, microRNA technology and ultrasound-guide in utero microinjection are integrated with cell and whole embryo culture systems, as well as in vivo mouse models of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying FASD.

His research interests include molecular mechanisms underlying ethanol-induced apoptosis and birth defects.

Doo-Sup Choi is a molecular biologist and neuroscientist. He graduated from the Department of Biochemistry at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea with BS (1988) and MS (1990). Dr. Choi completed his Ph.D. at the Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg, France in 1997. He performed a two-year postdoctoral research in the field of neuropharmacology of addiction (1997-1998) in the Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences at University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Following that, he joined the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center and the Department of Neurology at UCSF as a staff research scientist (1999-2004) and then a junior faculty member (2004-2005). He joined the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic in 2005 and has established an innovative and cutting-edge research program by combining mouse genetics, behaviors, proteomics, neurochemistry, and imaging.

His main research focuses on adenosine and glutamate signaling in neuron-glia interaction and its implication in alcoholism.

Dr. Brower started his career from Vassar College in 1973. Until 1981 he completed his B.A. in Psychobiology and M.D. Degree in Medicine from University of California. Until 1985 he successfully completed his Residency in Psychiatry from UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.

Addiction Psychiatry

Jin J Luo is an Associate Professor of Neurology and Pharmacology, Director of EMG and Neuromuscular Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine at Philadelphia. He is board certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology, muscular medicine, and electrodiagnostic medicine. Luo is a frequent contributor to neurology literature and peer reviewer for 12 professional journals. He is a member of American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, and Philadelphia Neurological Society.

General neurology, Epilepsy, Neuromuscular disorders, Genetic and congenital disorders.

Rajendra Badgaiyan completed his MD and MA (Psychology) in India and finished postdoctoral training at University of Oregon, University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University. He completed residency training in Psychiatry at Harvard and currently directs the outpatient addiction clinic and Neuroimaging Laboratoryat SUNY Buffalo. He is a member of the editorial boards of 12 journals and Chief/executive editor of 3 journals. Badgaiyan received several awards for research and he is recognized as the original developer of single scan dynamic molecular imaging technique that allows detection, mapping and measurement of dopamine released during task performance in the live human brain.

Psychology, Human Brain Mapping, Consciousness and Cognition, Neuro-psychopharmacology, Cognitive Brain Research

Neural cell targeting in vivo by synthetic nucleic acids with antisense sequence complimentary to mRNA and their use for gene activity detection have advanced our understanding for molecular mechanisms of stem cell therapy since the discovery of double-helical DNA in the 1950\'s. However, cerebral gene activity is rarely done except in biopsy and advanced brain tumor. His most important scholarship in his research career brings molecular biology into living brains: his colleagues under his guidance have developed state of the art in vivo gene transcript targeting Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI).

His research interest is to develop in vivo cell targeting by imaging specific gene transcript or protein in vivo using magnetic resonance image (MRI). Specifically, he planed to use gene targeted MRI to measure changes in deltaFosB and histone deacetylase 5 associated with chronic exposure to amphetamine in live mice. Because mRNA sequence is conserved from rodent to human, the technology can be translated to non-human primates prior to application in humans. His expertise, leadership and motivation was necessary to successfully carry out the proposed work which are outlined here. He has a broad background in gene targeting technology, with specific training and expertise in research areas. Working as a graduate student under Dr. CC Chang and Dr. JE Trosko, he received valuable exposure to the epigenetic theory of carcinogenesis. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, he intensified his training under Dr. LA Loeb, with whom he learned the mutator theory of cancer and aging. He carried out DNA polymerase purification and gene transfer for the mutator phenotype under a National Research Service Award, and later, a New Investigator Award from NCI. At the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH, he taught graduate students (Assistant Professor) and expanded his research as PI of an NSF research grant to include cell cloning of a mutant rodent cell line that under-produces DNA polymerase. He also imaged ongoing DNA repair and quantification of DNA polymerase in cell culture conditions. At the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, he worked as Technical Director of the DNA Diagnostic Laboratory. At Baylor College of Medicine, he established himself in neuroscience as PI on an Established Investigator grant funded by the American Heart Association. It was with this project that he laid the groundwork for gene transcript targeting technology, by developing effective antisense strategies in live rodents for gene knockdown, mRNA binding and cell targeting in the living brains of rats.

Madhusudhanan Narasimhan has completed his Ph.D at the age of 26 years from Madras University, India and postdoctoral studies from Nova Southeastern University, Florida, USA and UTHSCSA, San Antonio, Texas, USA. He is currently working as a Senior Research Associate in Dept. of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, TTUHSC, Lubbock, Texas. He has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals and serving in Editorial Board and as reviewer for toxicology and pharmacology journals of repute.

My research interests are primarily directed to address alcohol induced oxidative stress-mediated apoptotic neuron death in the developing brain. The other areas include exploring epigenetic mechanisms and miRNA mediated regulation of important antioxidant genes in alcoholism, role of protein translation in alcohol-induced neurodegeneration, drug resistance mechanisms in neuroblastoma and glioblastoma.

Dr. Anwar Jeewa Director and Founder of MINDS ALIVE Treatment Centre from July 2003 till Present in Durban, South Africa, completed Honours Degree in Religion and Social Transformation in 2004 in UKZN, Durban–Mini Dissertation Titled “Religion, Spiritual and Substance Abuse, completed Masters Degree in Social Science in 2006 in UKZN, Durban – Completed Masters Thesis on “The Treatment of Substance Abuse” in Residential Centres in the 21st Century. He is Involved in drug awareness programs in schools and for communities in South Africa and neighbouring African countries. Featured in the Readers Digest in Sept 2003 – Life Story called “ Long Crawl to Freedom”. He has been a guest on local Radio Stations – Voice of the Cape, Radio 786, Radio Lotus, Radio Islam, Radio Alansaar and has presented my own program on Channel Islam International for over 8 years called “ Fools Paradise” and also featured in many local newspapers and magazines. He also presented Papers for Medical Research Council; Islamic Medical Association, South Africa; Hope Conference, Bombay 2005, 2008; Ibogaine Conference, Washington, Feb 2008; Harms Reduction Conference, Miami Nov 2008; Ibogaine Conference Boston 2009; Ibogaine Conference, Dunedin NZ; Drug Policy Alliance Conference, Alberqueque, Nov 2009; Ibogaine Conference, New York, 2010, Ibogaine GITA Conference in Barcelona Oct 2010, Psychadelic Science Conference Amsterdam 2010 Oct, Harm Reduction Conference Austin 2010 Nov, International Conference Riyadh June 2011, Ibogaine GITA Conference Vancouver Nov 2012. He published a paper in the South African Family Journal 2009. Currently conducting research in a new rehabilitation program and Ibogaine.

Treatment of Substance Abuse, Addiction Treatment & Motivational behavior treatment.

Dr. Kenneth Blum is widely designated as Father of Psychiatric Genetics because of the of the DRD2 gene and its correlation with various psychiatric disorders including the “Reward Deficiency Syndrome” (RDS) which term he has coined. He is also known as the “Father of Neuro- Nutrient Therapy “ for his discovery of successful nutrient therapy for RDS. Dr. Blum holds numerous domestic and foreign patents and is co-founder and Chairman & CSO of LifeGen Inc. He is a former Full Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center ,San Antonio, Texas; Volunteer Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida and Adjunct Full Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont. He currently serves as Neuroscience advisor for Dominion Diagnostics., LLC North Kingstown, Rhode island, Malibu Beach Recovery Center, Malibu Beach California, and is the Scientific Director of PATH Foundation NY, New York. He is an honorary Faculty of IIOAB, India. Dr.Blum has been recently appointed Chief Scientific Officer(CSO) of G&G Holistic Addiction Treatment Centers in North Miami Beach Florida. To his credit he has over 400 publications in peer reviewed journals, 14 books and has received many awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Institute of Holistic Addiction Studies.

Psychopharmacology, Neuropharmacology, Genetics, Psychiatric Genetics, Pharamcogenomics & Nutrigenomics.

Dr. Gregory Bunt graduated medical school in 1983 from NYU School of Medicine, and completed his residency in Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1987. He was among the first to complete the Fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine (1989), and has since been on the NYU Medical School Faculty in the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, currently as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with Special Added Qualifications in Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Bunt is currently the medical director of Daytop Village, one of the largest and most well-established therapeutic communities for drug rehabilitation. Dr. Bunt also serves as the President of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine, and the President-Elect of the International Society of Addiction Medicine. He has authored over a dozen publications, and speaks nationally and internationally about addiction medicine.

Addiction and drug rehabilitation

Sorika de Swardt is a Social worker with eighteen year’s experience. She holds a BA degree in Social Work (1995) a MA degree in Psychology (2001) which she acquired in South Africa. She is currently enrolled for a Doctorate degree in Psychology. She has extensive experience in child and family welfare, child protection, trauma, medical and psychiatric social work and children with challenging behavior. She specialized in the United Kingdom between 2001 and 2007 in Mental Health and Forensic Dual Diagnosis. There she developed a Dual Diagnosis in-patient service in a Forensic, as well as the “Choose Life” training program which was nominated in 2005 for the NIHME Quality awards in England. She lectured on the Mental Health Act and Dual Diagnosis subjects to Post Qualified Health and Social Workers at Essex University. In 2006 she completed research regarding the effect of severe mental illness on family and carers. The outcome was made into a short educational film by Arklight Media, of which Sorika was the clinical producer. This DVD won the Silver Quality in-service training for nursing staff and care workers at Vista Clinic. Trust award in 2007 as part of a training package. In March 2007, Sorika and her family returned to South Africa where she practiced as Assistant Director for the NG Ministry of Caring, involved in Training, Psychometric Evaluation and Therapeutic Services. She presented at the 3rd MEISA World Congress in 2010 and the South African National SAPSAC congress in 2010. Whilst in South Africa she still frequented the UK to offer dual diagnosis training and in 2009 developed an online e-learning package for the South Essex NHS University Trust in regards to dual diagnosis. In 2012 she was sourced by a private wellness unit in Namibia, to train their professional staff on addiction and dual diagnosis. Currently Sorika practice as Private Practitioner rendering services at psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centre’s and is part of the marketing team at Elim Clinic Professional Addiction Treatment Centre. Her research interest centers around Hypersexuality, porn and internet addiction.

Addiction Treatment & motivational therapies

Kathy Sexton-Radek has received her Doctorate of Philosophy degree from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1989 and interned at Rush Medical University in 1988-1989 in Sleep Medicine, Behavioral Medicine, Geriatric Psychology and Health Psychology rotations. Currently she is working as Professor in Elmhumst College Psychology Department since 1988. She received her board certification in Behavioral Sleep Medicine. She completed a two year Post Doctorate program in Clinical Psychopharmacology which included a year long preceptor ship with psychiatry and pulmonary medicine rotation.

Her research focuses on sleep medicine, pain management, assessment and health psychology

Brendan Bickley is a nationally renowned addiction treatment expert. Brendan Bickley is a former Hollywood actor, growing up in a show business family. He left Hollywood at 24 to begin work in addiction treatment in 1997. A leading expert in the field of combining addiction treatment with college education and drug rehab program development. He was the co-creator of the first program ever to combine treatment with higher education. He graduated from U.C. Irvine with honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key International Honor Society, Cum Laude. He has been featured on national radio and print media as one of the most experienced experts in the field of addiction treatment coupled with college education. He is also a frequent lecturer at National Conferences. He holds an A.S. degree in Drug & Alcohol Studies, and two B.A. degrees in Criminology, Law & Society and Psychology, and doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. He is a licensed California Drug & Alcohol Counselor Level II, a licensed Clinical Supervisor and is certified in treating Eating Disorders. Mr. Bickley also attended law school and specializes in Motivational Enhancement Therapy/Motivational Interviewing. Mr. Bickley has created many successful programs at drug treatment facilities and consulted with many of the leading drug rehabs in the country to help them with program development, business, marketing, and creating college programs. He has held the titles of Executive Director, Clinical Director, Director of Education, Marketing Director, Creative Director, and Director of Clinical Programming at top drug rehabs in the U.S.. Mr. Bickley was also the star and executive producer of a reality show based on his unique treatment methods for E! Entertainment/Comcast. Mr. Bickley often worked as an independent contractor until accepting the position of Regional Executive Director for Treatment Solutions and then his current C.E.O. position at American Addiction Centers-Florida. Brendan is also the C.E.O and creator of Elzey.

Specialties: Healthcare, Combining College with Addiction Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, Christian Program Development, Program Development for Substance Abuse Treatment, Business and Marketing for Substance Abuse, treatment, Software and Technology Development-Healthcare

Huixiao Hong is a Senior Scientist at the Division of Systems Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Arkansas, USA, working on the scientific bases for regulatory application and development of genomics and biomarkers at the FDA. Before he joined the FDA, he was a senior Bioinformatician and the Manager of Bioinformatics Division at Z-Tech, an ICFI company. He held a Research Scientist position at Sumitomo Chemical Company in Japan. He was a visiting scientist at National Cancer Institute (NCI) at National Institutes of Health (NIH). He was also an Associated Professor and the Director of Laboratory of Computational Chemistry at Nanjing University in China. He published more than 80 scientific papers and served as an Executive Editor or a member of Editorial Board of 9 peer-reviewed journals and as a reviewer of more than 20 peer-reviewed journals in the area of pharmacogenomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and chemoinformatics. He received his Ph.D. from Nanjing University in China and did post-doctoral research at Maxwell Institute in Leeds University in England.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS): baseline practices for analyzing GWAS data, technical robustness of genotyping technology, sources of spurious associations, batch effects in GWAS; Proteomics: quality control and quality assessment of proteomics data, biomarkers for detecting hepatotoxicity, prediction protein function from protein sequences; Genomics: development of classifiers of diagnosis and prognosis based on gene expression profiles.

Dr. Juan J. Canales is an Associate Professor in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Dr. Canales completed his Ph.D. at the University of Oxford, UK, in 1997 and has conducted research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, and the University of Valencia, Spain. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science and serves in the editorial board of several other scientific journals.

His research focuses in the neurobiology and neuropharmacology of addiction and addiction-related disorders, and the impact of drugs on cognitive function.

Pierre has gained 20 years of experience in R&D as a Researcher, Principal Investigator, Laboratory Director and Serial Entrepreneur. He is currently an Associate Professor in Neuroscience at Laval University(Canada). He has published more than 100 Scientific publications.

Neurology, Brain and motor skills & Pharmacological methods of reactivation of neurons in the spinal cord locomotor.

Dr. Urban is a psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatryin the Division of Substance Abuse at Columbia University, New York. She received her M.D. from Humboldt-University in Berlin, Germany in 2001, as well as an M.Sc. in neuroscience from the University of Oxford (2003). Dr. Urban completed her residency in psychiatry at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine before joining Columbia in 2007, where she has worked as a P.I. and Co-Investigator on multiple NIH funded studies using positron emission tomography (PET), fMRI/MRS,and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to explore alterations in the dopaminergic, serotonergic and glutamatergic systems in drug abuse (cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, alcohol). She is currently working on experimental treatment of cocaine abuse with repetitive TMS, with pending grant support for a similar approach to cannabis dependence, as well as using novel radiotracers to explore involvement of the dynorphin system/kappa receptor in cocaine abuse and binge-drinking behavior.

HEr research interests include Behavioral Pharmacology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Drug Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental Disorders, Psychopharmacology.

Elisabeth Davies holds a Masters degree in counseling and has counseled thousands of clients since 1989. She opened up her private practice, Bright Alternatives Inc. in 1993 and continues to offer counseling and educational workshops. She was voted “Best in Counseling Services” by the U.S. Commerce Association, City of Peoria, Arizona in 2009 and 2010. Elisabeth is also the creator of Good Things Emotional Healing Cards, which have benefited thousands of people all over the world, in reinforcing healthy thoughts and beliefs. She is the author of Good Things Emotional Healing Journal; Addiction, which was published in 2011 and has helped many people gain effective strategies in managing unwanted habits and addictive behaviors. She has published articles with Together AZ magazine on the topics of depression and effects of divorce on children. She has also been a guest speaker several times at the University of Phoenix to graduate students and faculty, in the masters of counseling programs. She has been interviewed on several radio shows on the topic of mental health and addiction.

Counseling and coaching clients to assist them in overcoming obstacles so that they can reach their personal goals, effective strategies and motivational interviewing techniques, as well as goal forms so clients can track their progress each session.