UPDATED
Travel support for the ISBRA/RSA Joint 2008 Congress

download application form

Dear ISBRA/RSA Joint Congress Participant:

We are very pleased to have so many interested in participating in the Joint ISBRA/RSA 2008 Congress in Washington, D.C., USA, June 28 through July 2, 2008.  We now have additional information regarding the various travel awards and the criteria for each award. The application for the NIAAA Travel Awards and the ISBRA Board of Directors’ Travel Awards will be the same and the application form is attached. Please note that the funds for the NIAAA Travel Awards and the ISBRA Board of Directors’ Travel Awards are provided after the Congress and original receipts will be required for reimbursement. Please see the information noted in sections I. and II. below. Individuals interested in the travel awards from the Japanese Medical Society of Alcohol and Drug Studies and the Japanese Society of Psychiatric Research on Alcohol should refer to the information noted in section III. below. Please feel free to apply for all travel awards for which you are eligible; however, note that no individual will receive travel awards from more than one source.

I. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Conference Grant (Dr. Edward Riley, Principal Investigator)
The NIAAA Travel funds will primarily be used to support the travel of scientists from countries with new and developing alcohol research programs (e.g. Taiwan, Thailand, China, Russia). The criteria for the NIAAA Travel Awards are noted below. A small number of  these awards will be available for underrepresented minority investigators within the United States

NOTE: It will be important for awardees to present a poster and/or participate in a symposium, workshop, or roundtable. These funds will be provided as a reimbursement after the Congress.  Original receipts will be required for this reimbursement. If funds must be obtained before the Congress, please contact Dr. Edward Riley at . Preference is afforded to members of ISBRA and/or RSA. Travel awards from the NIAAA travel funds and the ISBRA Board of Directors’ Travel Funds will be processed through the same application form (attached). Please feel free to apply for all travel awards for which you are eligible; however, no individual may receive travel awards from more than one source.

1. Speakers outside of the United States: The NIAAA grant will provide support toward:   round-trip economy fare to Washington, DC; local transportation to and from homes, airports, hotel, etc.; and Congress registration fees.
2. Young/New Investigators outside of the United States: A young investigator is defined as someone who is less than 8 years post doctoral degree, and a new investigator as someone who has entered the alcohol research field in the last two years. Funds will provide support toward: round-trip economy fare to Washington, DC; local transportation to and from homes, airports, hotel, etc.; Congress Registration Fees; hotel accommodations; and, as noted on the registration information, the registration fee is reduced for registrants who are students or post-docs. The program will strive to highlight the work of young/new investigators.
3. A small number of awards will be available for Investigators within the United States who are members of an underrepresented minority. Funds will provide support to offset travel expenses and the Congress registration fees. The National Institutes of Health identifies the following groups as underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research nationally: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans (including Alaskan Natives), and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands. These funds are to ensure representation from a diverse group of scientists and trainees, including individuals from economically deprived communities.

II. International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) Board of Directors’ Travel Awards
The ISBRA Board of Directors will provide travel awards to students and new or junior investigators within and outside of the United States who, without support, could not attend the 2008 joint Congress. A junior investigator is defined as someone who is less than 8 years post doctoral degree, and a new investigator as someone who has entered the alcohol research field in the last two years. The ISBRA Board of Directors’ travel funds can also be awarded to individuals within the United States who are members of an underrepresented minority.  The National Institutes of Health identifies the following groups as underrepresented in biomedical and behavioral research nationally: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans (including Alaskan Natives), and natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands. 
 
NOTE: It will be important for awardees to demonstrate that they will present a poster and/or participate in a symposium, workshop, or roundtable. These funds will be provided as a reimbursement after the Congress.  Original receipts will be required for this reimbursement. Preference is afforded to members of ISBRA and/or RSA. Travel awards for the ISBRA Board of Directors’ Travel Funds and the NIAAA funds will be processed through the same application form (attached).

The MS Excel application for travel support from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Conference Grant and the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) Board of Directors’ Grant should be electronically submitted to: . The same application will be used for both funding sources.  Please read the criteria for eligibility carefully. Your responses in the application will determine your eligibility and the possible source of support if travel funds are awarded.

APPLICATION DEADLINE for both grants is: Friday, February 15th.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Michelyn Lintz at

III. Japanese Medical Society of Alcohol and Drug Studies and the Japanese Society of Psychiatric Research on Alcohol
The Japanese Medical Society of Alcohol and Drug Studies and the Japanese Society of Psychiatric Research on Alcohol will provide travel grants for the 2008 ISBRA/RSA joint Congress. Recipients of these grants will be young Japanese researchers (less than 50 years old) who are speakers in a symposium, workshop, roundtable, or invited lecturers. These travel funds may also be awarded to researchers from other Asian countries who are speakers in a symposium, workshop, roundtable, or invited lecturers, and there is no age limitation for these travel funds. Neither grant will be awarded to those whose travel costs are covered by other sources.  Please send the following information to Dr. Susumu Higuchi:
            Name
            Affiliation
            Full address (including an email address)
            Title of the presentation
            Title of the symposium, workshop, or roundtable accepted, or the title of the invited lecture.

Dr. Higuchi’s contact information is:
Susumu Higuchi, M.D., Ph.D.
Deputy Director
National Hospital Organization Kurihama Alcoholism Center
5-3-1 Nobi Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 239-0841, Japan
TEL: +81-46-848-1550
FAX: +81-46-849-7743
EMAIL: