International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

Biomedical research on alcoholism has given rise to important advances in knowledge and treatment of alcoholism. Comparative and collaborative research at an international level has made, and will continue to make, important contributions to our understanding of alcoholism and improvements in therapies.

These developments led to the birth of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism in 1981, bringing together researchers and their expertise from a number of national societies which are now affiliated to ISBRA.

Our message to ISBRA members is that this website represents a major initiative. Its purpose is to encourage and facilitate communication of ideas and new research among workers in the many convergent disciplines in our common field of biomedical research on alcoholism. From this perspective, it is your website. Therefore, its usefulness and success in fulfilling these ideals rests with you. We look forward to your participation.

To clinicians and scientists working in the field, but who are not yet members of ISBRA, we invite you to consider joining our Society. We are certain that you will find this a rewarding step in your professional life. Details are available on the membership page.

Take a tour using the navigation menu at the top of this page to view the information and activities covered by the site. We strongly encourage feedback; please send us your comments and suggestions for improvements.

2024 ISBRA-APSAAR World Congress on Alcohol and Addictions

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, SEPTEMBER 23 – 26, 2024

We have a star-studded array of symposia presenting cutting-edge scientific knowledge and practice experience on approaches to minimise harm from alcohol, other psychoactive substances, addictive behaviours such as gambling and online gaming. This will include the mechanisms of harm, prevention, brief interventions and treatment. Of the 58 symposia, 30 will focus on alcohol, 19 broadly on drugs and addictions, 4 specifically on opioid treatments and 5 on gambling and gaming.

I am pleased to advise colleagues based in Australia that members of the RACGP, RACP and RANZCP who participate in the Congress will earn 37.5 hours of approved CPD credits.

Early bird registration is available until 1 July 2024

Please take the opportunity to join us at this exceptional international conference at discounted rates. Members of ISBRA, APSAAR, APSAD and ISBRA-affiliated societies (i.e. RSA, ESBRA, LASBRA and JMSAS) are eligible for special rates. To register, please click on the link below.

Register now for early bird savings

Symposia of international experts

The symposia are at the heart of the Congress and will complement talks from the following international experts.

• Dr. George Koob, Director of NIAAA, USA: opening address and keynote lecture on The neurobiology of alcohol addiction.
• Dr. Sawitri Assanangkornchai, Director, Center for Alcohol Studies, Thai Health Foundation: Global epidemiology of alcohol and opioid use: how experience in low and middle income countries can inform global strategies
• Dr. Sachio Matsushita, Director, National Hospitals Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Japan: Gambling disorder and its treatment: findings from nationwide studies in Japan
• Dr. Elizabeth Elliott, University of Sydney, Australia: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in its broad context
• Dr. Katie Witkiewitz, Center on Alcohol, Substance use, and Addictions, University of New Mexico, USA: Precision medicine approaches to the treatment of alcohol use disorder
• Dr. Mack Mitchell, Vice-President for Medical Affairs, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, USA: Treatment strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality from alcohol-related liver disease
• Dr. Rasmon Kalayasiri, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand: Legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use: The Thailand experience
• Dr. Elisabet Jerlhag, Department of Pharmacology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden: The interaction between the gut-brain axis and alcohol use disorder
• Dr. Tae-Kyung Lee, Director-General, Bugok National Hospital, South Korea: Why should we think of food addiction today?
• Dr. Karl Mann, founders and senior members of ISBRA: Key discoveries in alcohol research and the path ahead

See full program

For full details on the Congress, see www.isbra2024.com

Join us in Melbourne in September for an illuminating experience at ISBRA 2024!

Kind regards,
Professor John Saunders

John B. Saunders MD, FRACP, FAFPHM, FAChAM, FRCP
Professor and Consultant Physician in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine
Congress President, ISBRA-APSAAR World Congress on Alcohol and Addictions