Awards Program Will Honor Outstanding Scientific Achievements in Pathological Gambling Research
For the first time ever, individuals who have made exceptional scientific contributions to the field of pathological gambling research will be formally honored for their achievements.
The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) has established an annual awards program that will recognize scientific excellence in this emerging field. Awards will be given exclusively on the scientific merits of nominees and will be presented at the 2002 annual conference sponsored by the NCRG and the Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders at Harvard Medical SchoolÕs Division on Addictions.
Sponsors of the awards program include Argosy Gaming Corporation; Boyd Gaming Corporation; Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.; MGM MIRAGETM; and Station Casinos, Inc.
The Institute, which was established under a $2.6 million NCRG contract to carry out academic and scientific research functions through rigorous peer review evaluations, is responsible for forming an independent committee to select award categories, set criteria and choose recipients.
Joseph T. Coyle, M.D., Eben S. Draper Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School, will serve as chairman of the awards committee. Dr. Coyle, whose research in neuroscience has earned him numerous prestigious awards, holds many distinguished positions, including member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He also served on the National Advisory Mental Health Council for the National Institute of Mental Health and is a past president of the Society for Neuroscience.
Under Dr. Coyle's leadership, the following individuals already have agreed to serve on the committee: Linda B. Cottler, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology in psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine; Richard I. Evans, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, University of Houston; Peter Nathan, Ph.D., University of Iowa Foundation Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Iowa; Christine Thurmond, administrative director of the Division on Addictions, Harvard Medical School; and David Lewis, M.D., professor of medicine, Brown University, and project director, Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy.
NCRG Board Chairman Maj. Gen. Paul Harvey (Ret.) endorsed the program, emphasizing: "For a field that is relatively new compared to other areas of science, it is important that we recognize those individuals who have helped advance research on gambling disorders. The more scientific knowledge that is gained through rigorous research about this complex issue, the closer we are to having better applications for the diagnosis and treatment of problems."
The NCRG seeks nominations of individuals who have significantly contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge focusing on gambling disorders through rigorous scientific research. Award categories, criteria and deadline information will be posted on the NCRG's Web site atwww.ncrg.org once they are established by the committee.
