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May 2025
Dear Colleague,
Welcome to the latest edition of the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine Newsletter – your source for the latest news, updates, and events in the field of addiction medicine. Stay informed, stay engaged, and join us in making a difference.
The Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine Team
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Cecilia Bergeria, PhD
Associate Professor & Matthew Osborne Lead Addiction Researcher
Cecilia Bergeria, PhD, will be joining the Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine this September as an Associate Professor and the Matthew Osborne Lead Addiction Researcher! Dr. Bergeria comes to us from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, bringing a comprehensive background as a behavioral pharmacologist with expertise on opioid use disorder, opioid craving and opioid withdrawal.
Congratulate Dr. Bergeria on Bluesky, LinkedIn and X!
| | | | Kahlert Faculty Spotlight | |
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Pete Manza's Research: Why does Ritalin help some people focus more than others?
Our team member Peter Manza, PhD, and his colleagues at The National Institutes of Health have uncovered key brain differences that explain the varying effects of stimulant medications on concentration.
Dr. Manza's research, detailed in a new press release from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, shows that unprescribed stimulant use for performance enhancement may not be beneficial for those without ADHD and carries risks.
Click here to read the press release.
| | | | ✨ Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine Annual Symposium ✨ | | |
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Location: SMC Campus Center, 621 W. Lombard St., MD 21201
Keynote Speakers:
Gary Aston-Jones, PhD
Professor, Rutgers University
Anna Konova, PhD
Assistant Professor, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University
Additional speakers include:
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Cecilia Bergeria, PhD, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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David Epstein, PhD, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Jimmy Olusakin, PhD, Matthew Osborne Postdoctoral Fellows, Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Sophia Weber, PhD, Matthew Osborne Postdoctoral Fellows, Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | Upcoming Seminars and Trainings | | | | |
MACS for MOMs Webinar
An Overview of Treatment for Substance Use Disorders During Pregnancy
- Tuesday, May 6 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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Presented by Christopher Welsh, MD, MACS for MOMs Medical Director
MACS Webinars
Approaches to Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders in Youth
- Thursday, May 8 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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Presented by Marc Fishman, MD, MACS Consultant
Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Integrated With Primary Care
- Thursday, June 12 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
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Presented by Michael Fingerhood, MD, MACS Consultant
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MACS ECHO Sessions
OTP Learning Community
- Methadone and QTc Interval
- Devang Gandhi, MD
- Wednesday, May 7| 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Maternal Health Learning Community
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Cannabis Use and Pregnancy
- Courtney Townsel, MD, MS
- Tuesday, May 13 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
SUD Learning Community
- Addressing Tobacco Use in the Context of Other Substance Use Disorders
- Bethea Kleykamp, PhD
- Wednesday, May 21 | 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Trauma-Informed Perspective Learning Community
- Early Interventions for Comorbid OUD and Trauma-Related Disorder
- Benjamin Israel, MD
- Wednesday May 28 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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Grayken Center for Addiction Training & Technical Assistance
Medications for Pregnant Patients with Stimulant Use Disorder
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- Online via Zoom
MA OBAT ECHO®: Treating Pregnant Patients with Opioid Use Disorder
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025
- Online via zoom
Continuing education credits available
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Neuro Networks Day
Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
Our partners from the Neuro Networks Team at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Neurobiology are excited to invite you to Neuro Networks Day.
Participate in a dynamic, inspiring, and collaborative event designed to celebrate and elevate the vibrant neuroscience community. The day will include a lineup of activities that include roundtable discussions, mentor-mentee programming, talks from leading scientists and valuable networking opportunities.
Registration is free!
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American Society of Addiction Medicine
Considerations for Tapering Benzodiazepines in Primary Care
Monday, May 19 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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Department of Neurobiology Seminar Series
Title: "Dopamine waves support spatiotemporal computations in reinforcement learning"
Presenter: Arif Hamidi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience,
University of Minnesota
Date: May 20, 11:00 a.m
Hosick Hall, Bressler Research Building
Zoom link:
https://umaryland.zoom.us/j/98570258800
Meeting ID: 985 7025 8800
Refreshments provided
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CA Bridge
Navigating Chronic Pain & Opioid Use Disorder
Thursday, May 22 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
This course will address navigating the intersection of chronic pain and opioid use disorder, focusing on
patient-centered treatment.
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Maryland Tobacco Control Resource Center (MTCRC)
The MTCRC offers training, education, and technical assistance to healthcare providers and students to encourage them to assess patients for tobacco use and refer them for treatment and lung cancer screening.
Title: Breaking the Habit in Behavioral Health (BH2) Training
Dates: July 31 & October 30
Presenter: Dr. Melanie Bennett, PhD
Click here for training flyer.
CEUs available for social workers and mental health counselors. CMEs available for physicians.
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The Jacob P. Waletzky Award
Submissions Close: May 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
The Jacob P. Waletzky Award from the Society for Neuroscience recognizes significant contributions to addiction research and treatment. Do you know an early career scientist who deserves this recognition? Consider submitting a nomination.
Our Associate Director Mary Kay Lobo, PhD, is a proud past recipient!
For more information, click here.
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Venniro Lab Demonstrates Rats’ Willingness to Coordinate for Social Reward
The Venniro Lab has developed a new rodent model to study how animals actively choose to socialize with each other. In this study, they created a setup where two rats—one acting as the “resident” and the other as the “partner”—had to coordinate their actions to initiate and maintain social interaction. The team found that both male and female rats were highly motivated to engage in this shared interaction, even when it became harder to do. The rats worked together quickly and often, showing strong signs of mutual cooperation. To understand the neurobiology behind this behavior, the researchers focused on norepinephrine. When they disrupted the norepinephrine system, the rats’ motivation to socialize dropped, but their interest in food rewards stayed the same. These findings offer new insights into how social bonds are formed and maintained and may help scientists better understand the biological roots of social behavior in humans.
Read the article here.
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