As in previous years, the very popular "Advances in Research" session will help kick off the APA annual meeting’s new research activities. It will be held Monday, May 15, at 11 a.m. at McCormick Place in Chicago. According to Pedro Ruiz, M.D., chair of APA’s Scientific Program Committee and cochair of this session, this year’s "Advances in Research" session will offer attendees state-of-the art research findings on each of the topics presented.

As in the past, this session will be cochaired by Herbert Pardes, M.D., dean of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and a strong advocate for the commitment of resources from both the public and private sectors for scientific psychiatric research. Pardes is a past APA president and a former director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

The speakers and topics for this year’s session include Marc A. Schuckit, M.D., on new developments in the genetics of alcoholism; Carol A. Taminga, M.D., on directions in pathophysiology research in schizophrenia; Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., on the adverse impact of depression on cardiovascular disease and treatment considerations; and Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D., on the pathophysiology and treatment of the early stages of schizophrenia.