NOV/DEC 2004
Volume 10 - No. 4
Research Activities at a Featured Program
SRNT Newsletter
Advancing Science & Health
November/December 2004, Volume 10, Number 4
Highlights of the 6th SRNT Europe Meeting:
October 6-9, 2004: Tübingen, Germany
The 6th annual conference of the SRNT Europe took place from October 6-9, 2004 in Tübingen, a beautiful university town in the southwest of Germany. The four-day meeting focused on three main themes in nicotine research and practice: basic science, clinical and treatment topics, and public health and policy issues. The six main sessions, three plenary sessions, five paper sessions and two poster sessions reflected these themes in accessible ways for scientists and practitioners from various disciplines.
The conference began on the afternoon of October 6th with a press conference that included a panel discussion presented by Karl Fagerstrom (past SRNT Europe Chair), Anil Batra (Conference Chair), and David Balfour (past SRNT Europe Chair). A media question and answer session was then followed by a live, online chat session provided by AOL Germany during which panel members answered smoking-related questions.
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DR. DAVID BALFOUR AND DR. ANIL BATRA |
This welcome was followed by two lectures that highlighted the principal themes represented at the meeting: clinical treatment, public health and policy, and preclinical research in the study of nicotine and tobacco dependence. The first of the two opening lectures was given by Gay Sutherland (King's College London), the new Chair of SRNT Europe, who reviewed some of the year's most interesting smoking cessation research from a personal perspective. The second speaker, Christian Chiamulera (University of Verona), discussed nicotine-induced "pleasure" and "memories" from a cue reactivity perspective. He highlighted the need for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of cue reactivity in nicotine dependence.
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PROF. ROBERT WEST AND
DR. KARL FAGERSTROM |
Plenary session lectures — one on each of the three principal days of the conference —focused on the main themes of the conference: basic science, clinical/treatment research, and public health issues. Sue Wonnacott (University of Bath) focused on bupropion in her presentation on neurochemical approaches
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The symposia and free communication sessions of the conference spanned the broad and interdisciplinary interests of SRNT Europe members. Session topics included:
- Genetic epidemiology and molecular research
- Ethical and methodological issues in tobacco research
- Preclinical nicotine neuroscience and translation into practice
- Smoking, health and therapeutic needs
- Advances in neurobiological research of nicotine dependence in Germany
- Tobacco control politics in Europe
- Updates on new behavioral and pharmacological treatments for tobacco dependence
The final main session focused on exciting and controversial innovations in the treatment of nicotine dependence, such as the nicotine vaccine, endocannabinoid receptor blockers, harm-reduction approaches, and internet- and computer-based interventions.
Various paper sessions presented new research and interesting perspectives on basic science, new treatment strategies, smokers' characteristics and diagnostics, multicultural views on politics and support for tobacco policies, and the efficacy and outcome predictors of smoking cessation interventions. Two poster sessions focused on multidisciplinary issues and research in both basic science and clinical/treatment areas.
A satellite symposium presented by Sanofi Aventis reported on the latest findings involving the endocannabinoid system. The symposium featured reports by Robert West (Cancer Research UK), Rafael Maldonado (University of Pompeu Fabra-Barcelona) and Robert Anthenelli (University of Cincinatti) on their respective findings: the natural recovery of smokers who intend to quit, the inner workings of the endocannabinoid system, and the potential benefits of Rimonabant, an endocannabinoid receptor blocker, as a pharmacological treatment for nicotine dependence.
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DR. EVA KRALIKOVA, PROF. GAY SUTHERLAND, AND DR. DAVID BALFOUR |
The social program offered at the conference was colored by the local traditions of the Swabian region of Germany. Following the opening lectures, ideas were shared over a traditional Swabian meal with local music provided by the Süddeutsches Salonorchester (Southern German Salon Orchestra) and Tobler Ohne. Following the second day of activities, participants were invited to enjoy local food, music and atmosphere at the Museum Restaurant. Entertainment included the jazz, swing, and big band musical stylings of Nervenband, most members of which are residents and professors at the University of Tübingen. On Friday evening, a reception and dinner at Hotel Krone (sponsored by Pfizer) recognized the career contributions of the retiring nicotine researcher, Professor Marvin Jarvis. This evening was a poignant event marked by heartfelt speeches.
The closing ceremony, hosted by Drs. Batra, Balfour and Kralikova, reflected on the ongoing success of and interest in an annual SRNT Europe meeting. After Dr. Batra thanked participants and organizers for this year's successful conference, Eva Kralikova (Charles University of Prague) introduced the joint SRNT international and Europe meeting that will take place in Prague, Czech Republic from March 20-23, 2005. We are already looking forward to the next exciting and engaging meeting of SRNT.