GUEST COMMENTARY

The 18th Annual Scientific Conference of the Societyon NeuroImmune Pharmacology

Sulie L. Chang & Guy A. Cabral

Published online: 2 March 2012# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Abstract The 18th Annual Conference of the Society onNeuroimmune Pharmacology (SNIP) will be held at theHawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii fromApril 25–28, 2012. The conference will focus on definingthe role of substances of abuse in modulating neuroimmuneprocesses and determining the physiological and behavioralconsequences of such alterations in infectious diseases, withHIV infection as the prime model. This focus will includebasic and clinical neuroscience, neuroAIDS, and other neu-rodegenerative processes, as well as the behavioral sciences.The conference also will address the relationship betweensubstances of abuse and HIV/AIDS, particularly with regardto etiology, genetics, epidemiology, prevention, treatment,health services, and therapeutic developments. A major goalof the conference and SNIP is to promote the professionaldevelopment of young investigators. Thus, four events willbe dedicated to young investigators. In addition, the AsianAmerican Pacific Islander (AAPI) workgroup of the NIDASpecial Population Office has collaborated with the Societyto sponsor Early Career Investigators who will present theirresearch. An exciting and comprehensive program has been

assembled that brings together scientists and practitionersfrom around the world providing a platform for them toshare their research and discuss the translational clinicaland epidemiological relevance of this research to the com-munity at large.

Keywords Neuroimmune pharmacology . Society onNeuroimmune Pharmacology

Welcome to the 18th Annual Scientific Conferenceof the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology

It is our honor to publish a compilation of abstracts from the18th Annual Conference of the Society on NeuroImmunePharmacology (SNIP) in the Journal of Neuroimmune Phar-macology. This is the third year that the abstracts from ourConference are being published in their entirety. We arepleased that Springer once again has agreed to provide openaccess to these abstracts. The Society would like to givespecial thanks to Howard E. Gendelman, Ph.D. and Ms.Robin Taylor, the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor,respectively, of the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology,and to Ann Avouris, Springer US, for their continued sup-port and assistance in helping this abstract book to comeabout.

The focus of the 2012 SNIP Conference to be held onApril 25-28, 2012, at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki andGolf Club in Honolulu Hawaii, USA is on defining the roleof substances of abuse in modulating neuroimmune process-es and determining the physiological and behavioral con-sequences of such alterations in infectious disease, with HIVinfection as the prime model. This focus will include basicand clinical neuroscience, neuroAIDS, and other neurode-generative processes, as well as the behavioral sciences. The

S. L. Chang (*)Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology, Seton Hall University,400 South Orange Avenue,South Orange, NJ 07079, USAe-mail: sulie.chang@shu.edu

S. L. ChangDepartment of Biological Sciences, Seton Hall University,400 South Orange Avenue,South Orange, NJ 07079, USA

G. A. CabralDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, VirginiaCommonwealth University, School of Medicine,Richmond, VA 23298, USA

J Neuroimmune Pharmacol (2012) 7 (Suppl 1):S1–S4DOI 10.1007/s11481-012-9348-1

conference will also address the relationship between sub-stances of abuse and HIV/AIDS, particularly with regard toetiology, genetics, epidemiology, prevention, treatment,health services, and therapeutic developments.

Each symposium will begin with a Symposium Lectureby a distinguished scientist who will provide an overview ofthe symposium topic and set the stage for the individuallectures that follow. Special emphasis will be placed in eachsymposium on the participation of young or junior investi-gators in addition to more established researchers. Eachsymposium will culminate with a brief summary by thesymposium chairperson in order to frame the informationpresented in an appropriate context. An exciting and com-prehensive program for the 18th Annual SNIP Conferencehas been assembled that brings together researchers fromaround the world to address basic cellular and biochemicalprocesses related to substance abuse and HIV infection andAIDS, and to discuss the translational, clinical and epide-miological relevance of the latest scientific data on sub-stance abuse and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

A major goal of the Society is to promote the professionaldevelopment of young investigators. The Society stronglysupports the idea that young investigators are key to thecontinuation and expansion of the field of neuroimmunepharmacology. Thus, four events will be dedicated to youngscientists, a practice that the Society has maintained over theyears. In addition, the Asian American Pacific Islander(AAPI) workgroup of the NIDA Special Population Officehas recognized the SNIP as one of the scientific forums tonurture the early careers of this special population of younginvestigators. Thus, they have collaborated with the Societyto sponsor Early Career Investigator (ECI) awards that willprovide distinguished young investigators the opportunity topresent their research and to interact with their peers andwith senior investigators.

The 18th SNIP Conference will open on Wednesdayevening (April 25) with the Young Investigator PosterSession, which highlights recent research accomplish-ments by young researchers. The next event dedicatedto young investigators is a special “Meet the Mentors”luncheon, to be held on Thursday afternoon (April 26).This luncheon will be attended by young investigatorswho are presenting their work at the Conference as wellas by mentors from academia, industry, and the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH), who have influenced thefield of neuroimmune pharmacology.

In addition to the Young Investigator Poster session, aGeneral Poster Session will be held on Thursday, April 26.The third event will be the Young Investigators’ Sympo-sium, which will take place on Friday, April 27. The aim ofthis Symposium will be to highlight the work of three post-doctoral and three pre-doctoral researchers, selected by theYoung Investigator Travel Award (YITA) Committee from

the pool of over 74 abstracts submitted based on theirquality and research accomplishments. The Bill NarayanMemorial Lecture, sponsored by Dr. Gendelman in memoryof his mentor, the late Bill Narayan, DVM, Ph.D., will bethe fourth event dedicated to young investigators. At thislecture, presented on Saturday, April 28, Tony Wyss-Coray,Ph.D. of Stanford University Medical Center will share histhoughts on the potential for young investigators to providenovel insights regarding the development of our scientificdiscipline and the essential role that reciprocity plays in thementor-mentee relationship. This lecture will serve as aprime example of the important role that the mentor playsin the professional and intellectual growth of younginvestigators.

This year’s conference will include two plenary lectures.On Thursday, April 26, Ming D. Li, Ph.D. will present thefirst Conference Plenary Lecture on the role of genetics andpharmacogenetics of addiction. Dr. Li’s lecture will set thetone for the Conference in that it will highlight the integra-tion of pharmacology and pharmacogenetics into the neuro-immunology of health and addictive diseases. The secondplenary lecture will be presented by Jeffery Samet, M.D. atthe opening session on Saturday, April 28. Dr. Samet willaddress the effects of alcohol and substance abuse on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. His presentation will high-light the necessity of conducting research in neuroimmunepharmacology as it relates to the HIV/AIDS population andthose at-risk for contracting the disease. There will be a total ofseven symposia presented at the Conference. The theme of thefirst symposium will be, “HIV Latency and HIV Reservoirs inthe Post-HAART Era”, a topic that addresses an emerginghealth challenge in spite of the application of highly-activeanti-retroviral therapy. This symposium will be sponsored byNIDA and organized by Albert Avila, Ph.D. (NIDA/NIH) andGuy A. Cabral, Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University).Dr. Avila will give introductory remarks to highlight theimportance of HIV latency research. Jonathan Karn, Ph.D.(Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine) willbe the keynote speaker and will talk on the distinct epigeneticcontrol mechanisms which regulate HIV silencing in T-cellsand microglial cells. Shweta Hakre, Ph.D. (University ofCalifornia at San Francisco) then will discuss molecular char-acterization and regulation of HIV latency at the epigeneticlevel to highlight the need for a global approach to promote abetter understanding of HIV latency and future directions tobe considered in this area. David Margolis, Ph.D. (Universityof North Carolina) will discuss the prospect of an “ART-lessFuture” and, finally, Patricia Molina, M.D., Ph.D. (LouisianaState University Health Sciences Center) will share her re-search results in which a systems approach was appliedto the unraveling of mechanisms of chronic Δ-9-THC-mediated modulation of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus(SIV) infection. Dr. Cabral will conclude this opening

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symposium, sponsored by NIDA, with a brief synopsisto highlight the importance of latency research in HIVinfection and neuroAIDS.

Symposium II, organized by Kendall Bryant, Ph.D.(NIAAA/NIH), Changhai Cui, Ph.D. (NIAAA/NIH), andYuri Persidsky, Ph.D. (Temple University School of Medi-cine), will focus on the interplay between alcohol use/abuseand NeuroAIDS. Abraham P. Bautista, Ph.D. (NIAAA/NIH)will kick-off the symposium by providing introductoryremarks. He will be joined by Dr. Bryant, who will providea few words regarding program opportunities at NIAAA forthis important area of research. Dr. Adolf Pfefferbaum, M.D.(SRI International) will provide the symposium keynotelecture on the role of neuroimaging in HIV infection andalcoholism comorbidity. Jon Levine, M.D., Ph.D. (Univer-sity of California) will follow with a presentation that willaddress the connection between the pain associated withAIDS and alcohol use and abuse. Norman Haughey, Ph.D.(Johns Hopkins University) then will address the issue ofneural membranes and receptor trafficking in alcohol andHIV. Maria Jose Miguez, M.D., Ph.D. (Florida InternationalUniversity) will address the impact of alcohol use onmarkers of inflammation and cognitive functioning amongindividuals who have been treated with anti-retroviral med-ications. James Haorah, Ph.D. (University of Nebraska) thenwill lecture on the concept of oxidative injury and bio-fuelimbalance as unifying mechanisms for neurological disor-ders in alcohol and NeuroAIDS. Drs. Cui and Persidskythen will close the second symposium by providing shortsummary remarks.

Symposium III, organized by Abraham P. Bautista, Ph.D.(NIAAA/NIH) and Pooja Jain, Ph.D. (Drexel University),will address the relevance of current rodent models used toassess issues related to substance abuse and HIV-associatedneurocognitive disorders (HAND). Rosemarie Booze, Ph.D.(University of South Carolina) will open the symposiumwith a lecture addressing a rodent HAND model in whichmethamphetamine produces behavioral and neurochemicalalterations similar to those observed in the human HIV-1+drug-abusing population. Michael Vigorito, Ph.D. (SetonHall University) will discuss how research using an animalmodel of HIV-induced neurocognitive dysfunction has dem-onstrated both experience- and substance-induced altera-tions in behavioral plasticity. Next, David Volsky, Ph.D.(Columbia University) will speak on the usefulness of amouse model in identifying critical biological pathwaysinvolved in HIV-1 effects on cognition. Johnny He, Ph.D.(University of North Texas) will discuss late-breaking stud-ies demonstrating, for the first time, that HIV-1 infection ofthe CNS induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress re-sponse in astrocytes, which in turn adversely affects neuronfunction and survival. He also will discuss implications ofthese findings. Finally, Jianuo Liu, M.D., Ph.D. (University

of Nebraska) will wrap-up the third symposium with alecture on how HIV-1 and methamphetamine alter neuronalphysiology and animal behavior through activation ofvoltage-gated potassium channels.

Symposium IV has been organized by Phil Peterson, M.D. (University of Minnesota) and Michal Toborek, M.D.,Ph.D. (University of Miami). Howard Gendelman, M.D.(University of Nebraska) will present the first lecture thatwill focus on how, in the past decade, scientists have utilizedcells of mononuclear phagocyte lineage, including dendriticcells, monocytes, and macrophages, as Trojan horses forcarrying nanoformulated drugs to target disease sites to pro-mote positive disease outcomes. Following Dr. Gendelman’slecture, Xiaoxia Li, Ph.D. (Lemer Research Institute) willdiscuss research indicating the critical role that resident cellsin the CNS play in the pathogenesis of cuprizone-induceddemyelination. The third symposium speaker, R. Lee Mosley,Ph.D. (University of Nebraska), will address T-Cell mediatedimmunity in neurodegeneration. He will address the therapeu-tic implications of targeting altered immune responses inParkinson’s Disease so as to diminish neuronal lossand improve clinical outcomes. Kalipada Pahan, Ph.D.(Rush University) then will share research findings thatcould be translated into NF-kB-based therapy in Parkin-son’s Disease clinics. Jenny Henkel, Ph.D. will close thesymposium with a lecture on how T-cells influenceprogression rates in Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).

As in past years, an NIHWorkshop and Luncheon will beheld immediately following symposium IV. The workshop,organized by David Shurtleff, Ph.D. (NIDA), Abraham P.Bautista, Ph.D. (NIAAA), and Jeymohan Joseph, Ph.D.(NIMH), will be presented by officers from NIDA, NIMH,NIAAA, and the Office of the Center of Scientific Review atNIH. Each of the NIH presenters will share information onnew program initiatives at NIH and provide insight on GrantWriting, Grant Review Process, and Grant Awards. Theworkshop will be followed by the Young Investigator’sSymposium mentioned above.

The deliberations on Saturday, April 28, will open withPlenary Lecture II followed by the final three symposia.Symposium V, organized by Mahendra Kumar, Ph.D. (MillerSchool of Medicine) and Pankaj Seth, Ph.D. (National BrainResearch Centre), will address the global scope of AIDS andsubstance abuse. Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D. (SanFrancisco General Hospital) will speak on HIV and alcohol-ism comorbidity with a focus on why leaving HIV infectionuntreated may result in patients being at greater risk foralcohol-associated toxicities. Following Dr. McCance-Katz,Madhavan P.N. Nair, Ph.D. will discuss his researchconcerning differential effects of the HIV-1 B clade leadingto increased neuropathogenesis and associated HAND. BrianWigdahl, Ph.D. (Drexel University) then will discuss HIV-1molecular complexity and subtype B and C infection, and

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Victor Valcour, M.D. (University of California) will addresshow to define the earliest CNS events of HIV in humansthrough international collaborations.

The 2012 Bill Narayan Memorial Lecture entitled,“Can Young Blood Make Brains Younger?”, will bepresented by Tony Wyss-Coray, Ph.D. (Stanford Univer-sity). Dr. Wyss-Coray will be introduced by HowardGendelman, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the Journal ofNeuroimmune Pharmacology.

Symposium VI, which will specifically address ongoingresearch in neuroimmune pharmacology conducted inHawaii, was organized by Linda Chang, M.D. (JABSOM,University of Hawaii). The first lecture will be presented byBruce Shiramizu, M.D. (JABSOM, University of Hawaii)and will address how polyamine analogs that target HIV-infected activated monocyes could be used potentially toprevent CNS inflammation by minimizing trafficking ofHIV-infected monocytes. Following Dr. Shiramizu, MailouAndres, Ph.D. (JABSOM, University of Hawaii), ChristineCloak, Ph.D. (JABSOM, University of Hawaii), Yuanan Lu,Ph.D. (JABSOM, University of Hawaii), George King, M.D. (JABSOM, University of Hawaii), Kazuma Nakagawa,M.D. (JABSOM, University of Hawaii), and Vivek Nerukar,Ph.D. (JABSOM, University of Hawaii) will speak on neu-rological effects of marijuana in adolescents, cell-mediatedgene therapy for neurAIDS, the role of increased cortisollevels in behavioral regulation of chronic marijuana users,the relationship between race, intracerebral hemorrhage,methamphetamine drug effects and untreated hypertension,and West Nile virus entry into the central nervous system,respectively.

The final symposium will focus on a new health risk inthe United States: “spice” and bath salts. This symposiumwas structured by Rao Rapaka, Ph.D. (NIDA/NIH) andZhiwei Chen, Ph.D. (University of Hong Kong). AronLichtman, Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University) willshare his knowledge on the pharmacology and toxicology ofsynthetic cannabinoids and public health concerns regardingtheir use. Next, Anu Mahadevan, Ph.D. (Organix, Inc.) willgive a structural overview of the different structural classesof novel synthetic cannabinoids and their trade names, andBrian Thomas, Ph.D. (Research Triangle International) willdescribe developing advanced analytical methods and spec-tral databases to facilitate the surveillance and detection ofdesigner drugs and illicit substances. The role of the NationalInstitute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute ofJustice (NIJ), and other federal agencies in supporting theseefforts also will be discussed. Finally, Mahmoud ElSohly, Ph.D. (University of Mississippi) will share his analysis of the

composition of methylhexaneamine (MHA), a stimulant ad-ditive in some dietary supplements.

The 2012 SNIP Scientific Conference will be concluded onSaturday evening with a banquet and awards ceremony. Atthis banquet, Bryan Yamamoto, Ph.D. (University of ToledoSchool of Medicine) will share on a more personal and lessscientific level his research journey on biogenic amines. Sucha personal account of the experiences, triumphs, and tribula-tions involved in scientific research is meant to remind allparticipants that the purpose of medical research is for thebetterment of society and humanity as a whole. This perspec-tive, in particular, will serve to inspire young investigators toprogress in their careers in medical research in a fashion thatcontributes to improving human health.

In summary, the 2012 SNIP Scientific Conferencewill highlight the current biomedical research indicatingthat substances of abuse play a role in the pathogenesisof HIV-1 infection and co-morbidity due to ‘super-in-fection’ and is reflected by the diversity of speakers.The program will emphasize the importance of definingthe mechanisms by which substances of abuse modulateimmune responses to compromise resistance to HIVinfection. Translational and epidemiologic research pre-sentations by both clinicians and basic researchers havebeen incorporated into the program in order to explorethe correlation between laboratory findings and “real-world” experiences of street drug addicts.

The 18th Annual SNIP Scientific Conference will be heldat the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, which offers 521 ocean-front rooms and 57 luxury suites along with a 27-hole golfcourse designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, signaturerestaurants offering Hawaii Regional and authentic Japanesecuisine, a fitness room, day spa and beauty salon, 13,000 sq.ft. of indoor function space, and 7,000 sq. ft. of outdoorfunction space. The hotel is located conveniently withinwalking distance of the Hawaii Convention Center, shop-ping areas, and beaches.

Again, welcome to the 18th Annual Conference of theSociety on NeuroImmune Pharmacology.

Acknowledgments Preparation of this manuscript was supported, inpart, by the National Institutes of Health grants, DA016149 (SLC),DA005832 (GAC), and DA029532 (GAC). We thank the Carol SwartsEmerging Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology andExperimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center,the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology, and Springer for theirsupport in publishing this abstract book. We also thank Drs. SylviaKiertscher and Michael Roth for their time and effort in organizing theabstracts that were submitted.

Conflict of Interest The authors have no conflict of interest.

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