The International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society (IBANGS) is a young society dedicated to explication of brain mechanisms underlying behavioral and neurogenetic contributions to individual differences. Members employ a full range of model systems, including neural network modeling, C. elegans, D. melanogaster, rodents, non-human primates and humans. Genetic methods employed range widely, including multivariate statistical analyses of gene function, gene expression arrays/proteomics analyses, and gene targeting studies (random and targeted mutagenesis), studies of chimeras, selectively bred and inbred strains, and gene finding methods including linkage and association analyses of major genes and quantitative trait loci. Members include faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and medical students in a wide variety of disciplines. The group has met 17 times since 1997, continues to attract new members, and now meets annually as a fully independent conference. Over the first four years of the current funding cycle (2012-2015), IBANGS has attracted an average of 131 meeting participants to each of the four meetings. This is an increase of approximately 30% over the average attendance from preceding years. The fifth and final meeting to be supported by the current R13 award will be held in Bar Harbor, Maine, USA, May 13-17, 2016. The venue is the Jackson Laboratory. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has provided the bulk of the funding for the current R13 since 2003.The society's journal, Genes, Brain and Behavior (Wiley Publishing Ltd.), is published eight times per year by the Society. This journal is entering its fourteenth year, is indexed by PubMed and achieved an impact factor of 3.661 in 2014, placing it 79th among 252 neuroscience journals. Subscription to the journal is a benefit of IBANGS membership. Neurobehavioral genetics has proven to be a vital research tool in the areas of alcoholism, mental health, child development, and human aging. Historically, studies in those areas have been represented in each of the scientific programs for IBANGS meetings to date. Support is sought to defray travel expenses for 15 students and postdoctoral fellows each year. From this group of 15 young scientists, 2 outstanding graduate students, and 1 outstanding postdoc are chosen to present talks. This young society presents an opportunity to attract a core group of young investigators during their formative years to neurobehavioral genetics and the pursuit of research improving human health.
The International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society (IBANGS) is a scientific society dedicated to understanding the brain mechanisms that underlie behavioral and genetic contributions to individual differences. Members include faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and medical students in a wide variety of disciplines. Support is sought to defray travel expenses for 15 students and postdoctoral fellows each year in order to attract young investigators during their formative years to neurobehavioral genetics and the pursuit of research improving human health, particularly in the areas of addictions, mental health, and human development.
