Inaugural Reward Deficiency Syndrome Summit
Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) in the 21st Century: Epigenetics,
Neurogenetics, Neuroimaging Tools for Therapy and Recovery

Welcome

It is our esteemed honor and pleasure to invite you to the first conference devoted to the Journal of Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) on November 16-18, 2015 in San Francisco, USA.

As new editors, and conference chairpersons' we will strive to enhance scientific standing of both the journal and conference to establish it as one of the most reliable resources for addiction research and therapy. To achieve this goal we will continue to encourage authors to submit their best research material to the journal and present at our annual conference.

We will select only high quality research studies such as original scientific articles; case reports; reviews; mini-reviews; editorials; commentaries; short clinical synopses; meta analyses to present at the conference. As editors/ chairpersons we are interested in innovative approaches in understanding RDS as it relates to addiction research and therapy. We encourage evidence-based scientifically sound abstracts pertaining to all aspects of addiction. We will encourage both animal and human studies and will welcome novel methods relevant to addiction research. We are particularly interested in addiction research in areas of genomics, epigenetics, pharmacogenomics, neuroimaging, nutrigenomics, molecular neurobiology, pharmacology, neurogenetics, and clinical trials. We encourage abstracts involving genome-wide DNA methylation mapping and gene expression including histone replacement, messenger RNA interference (miRNA) as well any other epigenetic studies. The conference will promote an open discussion of novel hypotheses to provide attendees with a global understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of addiction research, treatment and novel ways of enhancing the quality of recovery.

We are cognizant of holistic approaches that promote recovery. We will, therefore, support studies on the molecular biology and genetics of the 12-step program and the role of genes in acceptance or non-acceptance of a higher power in the context of recovery. We encourage research on genetic vulnerability to various forms of addiction (sex, gaming, internet, shopping etc). Studies on neurobiological mechanism of all forms of addiction will also be an area of interest. The conference seeks articles that evaluate validity of the definition of addiction proposed by various scientific entities including the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Abstracts that address the endemic of iatrogenic addiction are highly encouraged because of increasing global prevalence of prescription induced opioid addiction. The conference is seeking presentations that can provide evidence-based research on chronic pain and non-opioid pain treatment. We will welcome research into novel methods that utilize blood and urine analyses to monitor both prescription medication assisted treatment (compliance) and abstinence.

We enthusiastically encourage abstracts from clinical practitioners. Clinical trials should be compliant with the FDA, NIH and IRB regulations. We have considerable interest in presentations on methodology related to early diagnosis, especially in children.

Being aware of the need for upholding parity laws especially as they relate to third party insurance payment, from time to time, the chairpersons and organizing committee plan to invite experts in treatment reimbursement and laws that relate to utilization of medical necessity to provide updated informative views. Our on-going commitment is to lobby for enhanced funding for addition research in a concerted effort to reduce prevalence of addiction at the global level.

Our mission is to propagate knowledge that would allow every individual to enjoy the reward of our human legacy, the experience of pleasure and the ability to cope with life's stressors free from the need for addictive substances or behaviors. So join us in this new adventure linking genes, epigenetics and therapeutic interventions to promote both tertiary treatment and prevention of RDS across our universe.

Kenneth Blum PhD, DHL & Rajendra D. Badgaiyan MD, MA (Psychology)
Chairman & Co-Chairman
Inaugural Reward Deficiency Syndrome Summit (RDS-1)