Cold Spring Harbor Asia

A Meeting of Minds

Neuroscience of Addiction

Kyoto, Japan 

September 12- 19, 2026

Application Deadline: June 30, 2026



Organized by:


David Belin, University of Cambridge

Christopher Evans, University of California, Los Angeles

Hedy Kober, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley 

Mark Von Zastrow, University of California San Francisco



COURSE DESCRIPTION


See the roll of honor - who's taken the course in the past


Drug addiction is the most costly neuropsychiatric disorder faced by our nation. Acute and repeated exposure to drugs produces neuroadaptation and long-term memory of the experience, but the cellular and molecular processes involved are only partially understood.

The primary objective of the proposed course is to provide an intense dialogue of the fundamentals, state-of-the-art advances and major gaps in the cell and molecular biology of drug addiction. Targeted to new or experienced investigators, the course will combine formal presentations and informal discussions to convey the merits and excitement of cellular and molecular approaches to drug addiction research. With the advent of genomics and proteomics, an extraordinary opportunity now exists to develop comprehensive models of neuroadaptative processes fundamental to addiction, withdrawal, craving, relapse to drug use and general brain function.

A range of disciplines and topics will be represented, including:

  • Noninvasive brain imaging to identify drug targets and adaptive processes

  • Neuroadaptative processes at the molecular and cellular level

  • Neural networks and their modulation

  • Relevance of genotype to susceptibility and drug response

  • Tolerance and adaptation at the cellular level

  • Approaches to exploiting the daunting volume generated by neuroinformatics

This course will provide an integrated view of current and novel research on neuroadaptive responses to addiction, foster discussion on collaboration and integration, provide critical information needed to construct a model of addiction as a disease and novel molecular targets for biological treatments. Beyond the plane of scientific endeavor, the information is vital for formulating public policy and for enlightening the public on the neurobiological consequences of drug use and addiction.

This course is designed to generate interest in this level of analysis, open conduits for collaborations and present novel routes to investigating the neurobiology of addictive drugs.



2026 FACULTY ROSTER


TBD



2026 PRICING (INCLUDING TUITION, BOARD AND LODGING): 2500 USD


No payment is due until the selection decisions are made, but any applicant requiring financial support (i.e. stipends) should make that request in written form during the online application. The admissions process is need-blind, your financial situation will not be considered before admission decisions are made.