Mentors, Methods, and Manuscripts: the mantra of S.J. Enna

S.J. Enna is in people’s heads—in more ways than one. As a researcher, he has become an expert in defining the properties of GABA receptors, and has conducted research on other neurotransmitter receptors, their regulation, and their responses to psychotherapeutics, as well. Thus, he’s into people’s brains from the drug side of the pharmacy counter, making them less depressed, more attentive, and simply better able to cope with life.

Next, he’s growing students’ brains, as he serves as Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, and Professor of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics at the University of Kansas Medical School. He has been so successful at this that he has received several awards, first at the University of Texas, where he taught on faculty for ten years, and then when he returned to his hometown to work and teach at the University of Kansas, where he chaired the department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics for eleven years.

The third way in which Dr. Enna gets into people’s heads is through his words—or, more specifically, his publications. Between his voracious research and editorial efforts, Dr. Enna has contributed to hundreds of research and review articles, as well as over twenty books. He also serves as the editor of some major journals and other publications—including our very own Current Protocols in Pharmacology!

Because of the outstanding success of Dr. Enna’s career in research and education, and also because of his dedication to organizations such as ASPET, Wyeth (a renowned global pharmaceutical company) has awarded him the 2009 Torald Sollmann Award, to be presented on Sunday, April 18th. Dr. Enna’s award lecture, aptly title “Mentors, Methods, and Manuscripts,” will be delivered on Tuesday, April 21st.

See the ASPET Award Winners website for more information.

A True Love Potion (or Vaccine, Depending on How You Look at It)

“Treat yourself on Valentines Day… if you don’t love yourself then you will never be able to love others in a meaningful way.”
–Catherine Pulsifer, from Valentines Day is NOT only for Lovers

Some people call it a Hallmark holiday, others see it as a media-instructed opportunity to express themselves to a loved one, and retailers see it as a welcome upswing to propel their profits out of the post-holiday downturn. But no matter how it’s viewed, Valentine’s Day boils down to two points of view– either it’s a wonderful celebration of love between bipeds or a great excuse for singles to stay inside, eat ice cream, and catch up on their favorite TV shows (muting the love-inspired commercials, of course).

Who can help rectify these competing views on the same emotion? What can possibly affect these human instincts so each individual affected can function properly in daily life? Who can stop you from making an ass out of yourself when you meet someone that propels your fancy? SCIENCE, THAT’S WHO!

In the latest issue of Nature, neuroscientist Larry Young has come up with solutions for all aspects of love. There is one potion that can bring the “spark” back into your love life, or help you get over the crippling effects of heartbreak, and if you are of the creepy/stalker variety, it won’t be long before you can chemically woo a woman into loving you.

Continue reading: A love vaccine might be just the thing by John Tierney.

And, happy Valentine’s Day.

Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques wins the PROSE Award for Excellence in Biology & Life Sciences

Current Protocols online is pleased to announce that Current Protocols in Essential Laboratory Techniques (CPET) has been selected as the winner of the PROSE award for excellence in Biology and Life Sciences. Congratulations to all those involved.

Award for Excellence in Biology & Life Sciences:

Presented to:  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
For: Current Protocols in Essential Laboratory Techniques
Editors: Sean R. Gallagher & Emily A. Wiley

The PROSE Awards annually recognize the very best in professional and scholarly publishing by bringing attention to distinguished books, journals, and electronic content in over 35 disciplines. Judged by peer publishers, librarians, and medical professionals since 1976, the PROSE Awards are extraordinary for their breadth and depth.

Click here for the full press release.

To purchase CPET click here.

Greg Petsko speaks about the upcoming epidemic of neurological diseases

Gregory Petsko, an editor for Current Protocols Bioinformatics, presents the argument that in 40 years, we will see a significant increase in the number of neurological cases around the world. He states that we are facing an “…epidemic of neurological diseases on a global scale” and he feels that so far, the “…government has dropped the ball on this.”

He feels that research has provided ways to counteract the progress. These include caffeine, fish oil, keeping your blood pressure low, and most importantly keep yourself mentally stimulated.

Here’s to hoping that the new administration recognizes the severity of this upcoming global crisis. To see the video presentation, please click here.

Join us at the 58th annual American Society of Human Genetics meeting!

The City of Brotherly Love is hosting this year’s ASHG meeting, November 11-15 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.  This is an opportunity to network with professionals involved in research, technology, and publications relating to the field of human genetics.  Highlights include the latest developments in epigenetics, non-coding RNAs, triplet expansions, pharmacogenetics, and therapy for genetic disorders.  The UCSC Genome Browser, an essential tool for interpreting genetic and genomic information, will also be presented.  Online registration ends tomorrow.

Attendees are encouraged to stop by our Meet the Editor sessions, where three distinguished scientists on the editorial board of Current Protocols in Human Genetics will be available to answer questions and discuss current research.  The schedule for these sessions is as follows:

Wednesday, November 12, 4:30-5:30 pm

Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, University of Alabama

Thursday, November 13, 4:30-5:30 pm

Jonathon L. Haines, PhD, Vanderbilt University

Friday, November 14, 10:30-11:30 am

Cynthia C. Morton, PhD, Harvard Medical School & Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Current Protocols can be found at the Wiley-Blackwell booth (1001 & 1003) inside the convention center.  Friendly representatives from Wiley will be there to answer your questions and show you sample copies of Current Protocols in Human Genetics, as well as Wiley’s many book and journal titles in this subject.

Take some time to explore Philadelphia, and be sure to check out the exciting activity at this year’s meeting.  For more information on ASHG and a schedule of events, visit http://www.ashg.org/2008meeting.  See you there!