150th Meeting Minutes

Minutes – May 13, 2025

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse convened its 150th meeting at 11:00 a.m. on May 13, 2025. This meeting was conducted virtually. The closed portion of the meeting held on May 13th was for reviewing applications for Federal grant assistance and was open only to Council members and Federal employees. The open portion of the meeting began at 1:30 p.m. The Council adjourned on May 13, 2025, at 4:15 p.m.

Council Members Present
Arpana Agrawal, Ph.D.
Kate Beebe DeVarney, Ph.D.
Deborah Chassler, MSW
Charles Chavkin, Ph.D.
Cristiane Duarte, Ph.D.
Helena Hansen, M.D., Ph.D.
Regina LaBelle, J.D.
Angela Laird, Ph.D.
Melanie Ott, M.D., Ph.D.
Mark VonZastrow, M.D., Ph.D

Council Chair
Nora Volkow, M.D.

Executive Secretary
Susan Weiss, Ph.D.

Non-Federal Employees Present
Aimee Campbell – Columbia University
Sarah Farkas – Non-Federal Attendee
Paul Glimcher – New York University Langone
Joshua Lee – New York University Langone
Ryan McDonald – New York University Langone
Sarah Meyers-Ohki – New York University Langone
Elizabeth Rotrosen – Non-Federal Attendee
Matisyahu Shulman – Columbia University
Chung-Yui Tai – NIDA Volunteer

Closed Portion of the Meeting - May 13, 2025

1. Call to Order     
   This portion of the meeting was closed to the public in accordance with the determination that it was concerned with matters exempt from mandatory disclosure under sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., and section 1009(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1014).
   
   Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, NIDA, called the meeting to order and welcomed the Council and staff. She reminded those present that the Federal Advisory Committee Act applies to Council meetings and that this portion of the meeting was closed to the public.
   
   Dr. Susan Weiss, Executive Secretary, summarized relevant NIH policies, provided detailed instructions on Council review procedures, and reminded those present about NIH confidentiality and conflict of interest policies.
2. Application Reviews     
   Drs. Iván Montoya, Tristan McClure-Begley, and Carlos Blanco, Directors of NIDA’s Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences, Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (acting), and Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research presented their Division’s assigned and peer-reviewed applications for consideration by the Council. For each application, Council provided unanimous en bloc concurrence with the initial scientific review. Four administrative supplements, two MERIT extensions, one ESI MERIT nominations, one Foreign application, and three Special Council Review Applications were presented to Council; Council concurred with program assessments. The initial review of all Trans- NIH Initiatives, including NIH Common Fund, Blueprint, and BRAIN applications, as well as foreign applications and applications with a secondary assignment to NIDA, also received Council concurrence. In total, Council concurred with the initial review of 577 applications requesting $355 million in first-year direct costs.
   
   Council and staff were recused from the Council meeting during the discussion of, and voting on, individual applications from their own institutions or other applications for which there was a conflict of interest, real or apparent. Conflicts of interest statements were signed by each member of the Council. Members were not required to leave the room if an application in conflict with that member was acted upon en bloc.

Open Portion of the Meeting - May 13, 2025

1. Call to Order     
   Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, NIDA, called the open portion of the meeting to order and welcomed all attendees. She reminded all in attendance that the meeting was open to the public in compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, was available and recorded via videocast, and indicated that any public comments submitted via email within 10 days of the meeting would be included in the minutes.
2. Review Operating Procedures
   Council approved of changes to the Operating Procedures.
3. Triennial Report on Inclusion    
   Council approved the 2025 Triennial Advisory Report certifying compliance with the NIH policy on inclusion guidelines to the NIH.
   
   Dr. Volkow then called attention to future Council meeting dates: September 9, 2025, February 3, 2026, and May 5-6, 2026.
4. Acknowledging Retiring NACDA Members
   Dr. Volkow thanked Charles Chavkin, Amit Etkin, and Melanie Ott for their service to NIDA.
5. Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. John Rotrosen (NIH Videocast @ 04:50)
   Dr. Volkow presented the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. John Rotrosen. She remarked on his outstanding contributions to the fields of addiction, ADHD, schizophrenia, and movement disorders. Dr. Rotrosen’s research led to groundbreaking clinical trials and medication development efforts. In addition to his research, Dr. Volkow praised his dedication to mentorship and leadership of trainees and colleagues. Family members and colleagues joined in celebrating Dr. Rotrosen.
6. NIDA Director’s Report (NIH Videocast @ 40:41) – Nora Volkow, M.D., Director, NIDA
   Dr. Volkow first updated Council on the leadership changes at NIH and NIDA and reviewed the current FY25 operating budget. She provided an overview of the NIDA HEAL Strategic Plan and the core objectives of advancing research on prevention and treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) including polysubstances and advancing research on comorbid conditions including chronic pain. Next, she discussed the findings from the 2024 Monitoring the Future Study which follows trends in drug use among teenagers and noted the rise in use of nicotine products among this age group. Dr. Volkow provided updates on both the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study. She then discussed overall decreases in drug overdose deaths while emphasizing the issue of polysubstance use in fatalities. Next, Dr. Volkow presented research focused on increasing access to care prior to an overdose such as in emergency departments and the justice system and noted challenges to accessing treatment. She highlighted recent SUD research findings related to GLP-1 receptor agonists and personalizing interventions with neuromodulation. Lastly, Dr. Volkow detailed the new priorities of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and a recently released National Academies report on a National Prevention Infrastructure for Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders.
   
   Council thanked Dr. Volkow for her presentation and a discussion followed (NIH Videocast @1:42:50).
    
7. Concept Clearances  (NIH Videocast @ 2:06:21)
   
   Division of Extramural Research (DER)
   – ABCD and HBCD Study Biospecimens Management – Kim LeBlanc, Ph.D.
   
   Following the presentation, NACDA voted to approve the concept.
   
   Center for the Clinical Trials Network (CCTN)
   – National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network – Data & Statistics Center – Landhing Moran, Ph.D.
   
   Following the presentation, NACDA voted to approve the concept.
   
   Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research (DESPR)
   – Adult-Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (A-ABCD) Study Renewal-Research Project Sites and Centers – Bethany Deeds, Ph.D.
   
   HIV Research Program (HRP)
   – NIDA Avant-Garde/Avenir Awards for high risk/high reward research on HIV and Substance use – Kavi Vasundhara, D.V.M, Ph.D.
   
   Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB)
   – Molecular and Neural Mechanisms of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation to Treat Substance Use Disorders – Sam Anantham, Ph.D.
   – BRAIN Initiative: Theories, Models and Methods for Analysis of Complex Data from the Brain – Jessica Mollick, Ph.D. and Christina Hatch, Ph.D.
8. Public Comments (NIH Videocast @ 2:23:30)    
   No public comments were submitted.
9. Adjourn (NIH Videocast @ 2:24:00)       
   The 150th meeting of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Certification

I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete.

• Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
  Director, NIDA
  Chair, National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
• Susan Weiss, Ph.D.
  Executive Secretary, National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse

Council Roster

Note: Informational materials provided to the public at the open session of the meeting may be obtained from the Executive Secretary.