Pre-Conference Forum
DATE: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Grand Hyatt Denver
TIME: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

International Networking Forum

Co-Chairs: Brenda Miller, PhD, Prevention Research Center and Sven Andréasson, PhD, Swedish National Institute of Public Health

The purpose of this full-day forum is to create an interactive forum for researchers, policy makers, and community representatives who are engaged in prevention strategies and interventions involving international collaborations or who are planning such activities. This is not intended to be a didactic, lecture-based forum. Topics and ideas will organize the session and the majority of time will be reserved for interactive discussions. A major topic of this year’s forum will be to solicit ideas and suggestions about creating a successful conference for 2011. Moderators of the discussion will ensure that the forum encourages participation by different attendees, formulates strategies or promotes ideas for moving the field forward, and establishes framework for developing an international network that facilitates collegial and collaborative relationships. The NIDA international poster session immediately follows the international forum and will provide an opportunity for attendees to continue their discussions in an informal manner throughout the evening.

Pre-Conference International Networking Forum (PDF)

Preconference Workshops

SPR provides training opportunities in prevention science during pre-conference workshops scheduled for Tuesday, June 1, 2010. All workshops require registration.

Pre-Conference #1
DATE: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Grand Hyatt Denver
TIME: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Utilization of Innovative Interdisciplinary Tools for Integrated Objective Measurement of Exposure to Physical and Psychosocial Stressors and Drug Use

Presenters: Marcia S. Scott, Ph.D., National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Mariana G. Figueiro, Ph.D. Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Mark S. Rea, Ph.D. Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Yong Zhu, Ph.D. Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, Kenzie L. Preston, PhD, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program Chief, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Research Branch, David H. Epstein, Ph.D., National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Branch, Treatment Section

The purpose of the proposed workshop is to present theory and methods for collaborative integration of technological, biological and psychosocial research approaches in field research among diverse populations. Such approaches have been undertaken by two projects involved in the Network on Exposures to Psychosocial Stress and Addictive Substances (NEPSAS), a program supported by the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) Exposure Biology (EB) program. The EB component of GEI supports projects utilizing new methods (e.g., ecological momentary assessment/EMA, geospatial positioning/GPS, light sensors) to assess personal exposure to environmental stressors and responses to those stressors via key biological pathways involved in the pathogenesis of common diseases. While the use of retrospective self-report measures continues as a primary method for assessment of health-related behavioral intentions and actions in many studies, these methods yield little data on dynamic changes in exposure and responses over time (temporal resolution) and across locations (spatial context). Ultimately, the successful identification of etiological processes of complex disorders depends on greater precision in measurement of environmental exposures, that can be combined with related biological mechanisms (including genetic) and physiologic systems to fully evaluate impact on disease risk. While research technologies for discovery of gene identification and functioning continue to rapidly evolve, integrated approaches to etiologic study of disease also require improved precision in objective measurement of interactive psychosocial and behavioral processes.

Pre-Conference Workshop #1: Utilization of Innovative Interdisciplinary Tools for Integrated Objective Measurement of Exposure to Physical and Psychosocial Stressors and Drug Use (PDF)

Pre-Conference #2
DATE: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Grand Hyatt Denver
TIME: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Integrating Primary Prevention for Substance Use and Mental Health with Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Other Associated Consequences of Risky Sexual Behavior among At-Risk Youth

Presenters: Richard Jenkins, PhD, NIDA, Sheppard Kellam, MD, Johns Hopkins University and American Institutes of Research, Kevin Haggerty, MSW, University of Washington, Ron Stall, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Marguerita Lightfoot, University of California-San Francisco, Linda J. Koening, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gary W. Harper, PhD, DePaul University

The purpose of this workshop will be to bring together researchers from HIV prevention, primary prevention of drug use and psychiatric disorder, and those who have experience with evaluating risk and protective factors for sexual risk, drug use, and other key variables. The objective is to brainstorm new directions for HIV prevention research among youth, with particular attention to at-risk populations such as ethnic/racial minority and sexual minority youth. There is a need to better address developmental needs of these youth, while learning from the broader fields of HIV prevention and prevention of substance use and psychiatric disorder. Consideration will be given to important milestones and experiences which may shape sexual and drug use risk behavior, as well as consideration of different intervention modalities and systems for service delivery. This will be an opportunity for researchers to consider ways to translate what has been learned from primary prevention directed at substance use and mental health to HIV prevention. It also will be an opportunity to consider levels of analysis and prevention intervention beyond the individual or small group.

Pre-Conference Workshop #2: Integrating Primary Prevention for Substance Use and Mental Health with Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Other Associated Consequences of Risky Sexual Behavior amont At-Risk Youth (PDF)

Pre-Conference #3
DATE: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Grand Hyatt Denver
TIME: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Systems Science Methodology for Prevention Science

Presenters: Elizabeth Ginexi, PhD, NIDA, Patricia Mabry, PhD, OBSSR, Linda Collins, PhD, Penn State University, Daniel Rivera, Arizona State University, Ty Ridenour, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Thomas Valente, PhD, University of Southern California, Scott Gest, PhD, Penn State University, Kristen Hassmiller Lich, PhD, University of North Carolina, Thomas Dishion, PhD, University of Oregon, Elizabeth Bruch, PhD, University of Michigan, Anthony, PhD, Oregon Research Institute

The purpose of this interactive workshop is to introduce prevention scientists to the utility of systems science methodologies for addressing some of the challenging research questions in their field and to familiarize them with selected methodologies: system dynamics modeling, agent-based modeling, network analysis, and engineering control methods for optimizing intervention design. Following a more general introduction to the methods, there will be a separate session to highlight each of the featured methodologies. During each of these sessions, participants will receive a primer on the particular system science method being featured from an expert in that area. Next an applied researcher in the prevention science area will provide a brief description of a prevention science relevant problem amenable to the specific methodology. Finally, each session will close with a facilitated, interactive discussion between session participants, the systems science expert and the applied prevention researcher regarding how the particular method might be used in prevention science studies.

Pre-Conference Workshop #3: Systems Science Methodology for Prevention Science (PDF)

Pre-Conference #4
DATE: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Grand Hyatt Denver
TIME: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Secondary Data Analysis* *But Were Afraid to Ask

Sponsored by the ECPN Steering Committee

Presenters: Richard Moser, PhD, NCI, Kathy Etz, PhD, NIDA, Bethany C. Bray, PhD, Virginia Tech University, Felicia B. LeClere, PhD, University of Michigan, Ty A. Ridenour, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Erik Augustson, PhD, National Cancer Institute, Amy Yaroch, PhD, Center for Human Nutrition, Lila Finney Rutten, PhD, National Cancer Institute

Numerous federal, state, and grant-related health data are available that are currently underutilized by research scientists, such as the National Health Interview Survey, the Health Information National Trends Survey, the California Health Interview Survey, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. In addition, many investigator initiated datasets are not mined to their full potential. These databases capture national estimates of health-related behavior, knowledge, and attitudes and/or provide information on the mechanisms and processes that account for behavioral or health outcomes as well as outcomes related to interventions. Secondary analyses of existing databases may serve as an economical alternative to expensive and time-consuming new data collection projects and may serve as a valuable tool to test complex statistical models, perform meta-analyses and develop and test empirical hypotheses.

This workshop, through lecture, applied demonstrations, and group discussion will inform participants about Internet-based and other health databases available for analysis and describe the utility and content of these databases, as well as explain how to access and analyze the data. Presentations will highlight analytic issues involved with utilizing these data, describe statistical software available to perform analyses, demonstrate the types of analyses that can be completed, and describe how two different datasets can be combined for analysis. In addition, an early-career scientist will discuss her experience in doing secondary data analysis and how this has enhanced her career. The last part of the workshop will include a panel of people from both within and outside of the Federal government to describe and discuss relevant NIH funding mechanisms and discuss the process of obtaining funding. Audience members will be encouraged to participate in this discussion.

Pre-Conference Workshop #4: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know ABout Secondary Analysis * *But Were Afraid to Ask (PDF)