• IMGC2015 – registration is open

Registration and abstract submission for the 29th International Mammalian Genome Conference IMGC2015 that will be held from November 8th to November 11th, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan are now open. See more at http://www.imgc2015.jp/registration.html

• MCW Gene Editing Rat Resource Center is pleased to announce that the 4th round of applications for gene nominations for genetically modified rats are now being accepted!

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has awarded the Medical College of Wisconsin an R24 Resource grant to make ~200 genetically modified rat strains over the next five years. These models will be of interest and value to the mission of the NHLBI. The NHLBI promotes the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases through scientific discovery directed toward the causes of disease and translation of basic discoveries into clinical practice.

Round 4 Deadline: April 12, 2015 (Midnight Milwaukee, WI time). Submit completed application to: [email protected].

More information: http://rgd.mcw.edu/wg/gerrc

2014 Pilot Grants awarded

Congratulations to the 2014 Pilot Grants recipients:

Dr. Xiaoxi Zhuang, University of Chicago. “GWAS of nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization in Drosophila”

Drs. Nancy Cox and Hae Kyung Im, University of Chicago. “Applying PrediXcan to Genes implicated in Rat Neurobehavioral Studies”

Dr. Martin Sarter, University of Michigan. “CHT regression as a Neuromarker of Sign-Tracking”

Dr. Paul Meyer, University at Buffalo. “The effects of cadherin-13 gene deletion on addiction-like behaviors”

NIDA researchers confirm important brain reward pathway

NIH study in rodents identifies a pathway that starts with glutamate and ends with activation of dopamine reward system Details of the role of glutamate, the brain’s excitatory chemical, in a drug reward pathway have been identified for the first time. This discovery in rodents — published today in Nature Communications — shows that stimulation … Read more…