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Nora Volkow

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Nora Volkow
Nora Volkow in 2013.
Born (1956-03-27) 27 March 1956 (age 68)
Alma mater
Known for
SpouseStephen Adler
Scientific career
Fields
Institutions

Nora Volkow (born 27 March 1956) is a Mexican-American psychiatrist.[1] She is currently the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),[2] which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).[3]

Volkow is the first person from the NIH to visit His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamsala, HP, India. During this 2013 visit, Dr. Volkow took part in a dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama about addiction science, as part of a five-day conference sponsored by the Mind and Life Institute.[4][5]

In 2014, Volkow was a featured speaker at TEDMED, the annual multi-disciplinary gathering where leaders from all sectors of society come together to explore the promise of technology and potential of human achievement in health and medicine. Dr. Volkow's talk focused on the parallels between compulsive overeating and drug addiction.[6]

Life

Dr. Nora Volkow with the Dalai Lama and other participants in the Mind and Life Conference on Craving, Desire and Addiction in Dharamsala, India

Volkow earned her bachelor's degree from the Modern American School, then earned a medical degree from National University of Mexico before going to New York University for psychiatric residency. She chose a career in brain research after reading an article on the use of positron emission tomography in studying brain function. She did research at Brookhaven National Laboratory[7] before becoming director of NIDA in 2003.[8][9]

Research

Volkow's imaging studies of the brains of people addicted to drugs have helped to clarify the mechanisms of drug addiction.[9] This research has played a part in changing the public's view of drug addiction, from that of a moral violation or character flaw to an understanding that pathological changes to brain structure make it very difficult for addicts to give up their addictions.[9][10] Volkow concludes that abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex create a feeling of need or craving that people with addictions find difficult to prevent. She argues that this makes it difficult to override compulsions by exercising cognitive control. The main areas affected are the orbitofrontal cortex, which maintains attention to goals, and the anterior cingulate cortex, that mediates the capacity to monitor and select action plans. Both areas receive stimulation from dopamine centers lower in the brain. A steady influx of dopamine makes it difficult to shift attention away from the goal of attaining drugs. It also fastens attention to the motivational value of drugs, not pleasure. Volkow suggests that people with addictions are caught in a vicious circle of physical brain changes and the psychological consequences of those changes, leading to further changes.[9][11][12]

Dr. Nora Volkow with patient in PET scan

Awards and Recognitions

Volkow has been recognized for her scientific contributions, both before and during her time at NIDA. The following are among the most significant:

  • Innovator of the Year. U.S. News & World Report, 2000.
  • NEWSWEEK: Who's Next 2007, a list of 21 people predicted to be newsmakers in 2007.[13]
  • The 2007 TIME 100. TIME's list of the 100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.[14]
  • The List of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Washingtonian Magazine's list of women who lead and lobby, educate and enlighten, and look for cures and pathways to a better world.[15]
  • Washington's 100 Most Powerful Women, Washingtonian Magazine's list of females who've made it to the top.[16]
  • Finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for the Science and Environment Medal (Sammies), Washington DC 2013. These awards recognize outstanding service and are considered among the most prestigious available to federal workers.[17]
  • Hispanic Scientist of the Year Award by Museum of Science & Industry (Tampa) in 2012, for promoting scientific understanding in the community and providing a role model for Hispanic youth. [18]

In 2007, NIDA and another NIH Institute (the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) received an Emmy Award for HBO's The Addiction Project. Nora Volkow represented NIDA in receiving the Emmy.[19]

Personal

Dr. Volkow is the great-granddaughter of Russian revolutionary leader and Head of the Fourth International, Leon Trotsky. Her father Esteban Volkov is the son of Leon Trotsky’s elder daughter.[9] Born in Mexico City, Volkow and her three sisters grew up in the house where Trotsky was killed.[9][20][21] In 2014, Volkow participated in Moth at the World Science Festival, where scientists, writers and artists tell stories of their personal relationships with science. During this time, Volkow discussed her family history, and how it furthered her ambition to pursue science in order to positively influence others.[22]

Volkow is married to Dr. Stephen Adler, a physicist with the National Cancer Institute.[9]

References

  1. ^ Zuger, Abigail. "A General in the Drug War". New York Times. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Director's Page". National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Institutes, Centers & Offices". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Talking to the Dalai Lama about Addiction Science". National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Mind and Life XXVII - Craving, Desire and Addiction". His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Nora Volkow, Why do our brains get addicted?". TEDMED. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Medical Department". Brookhaven National Laboratory. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Dr. Nora D. Volkow Named New Director of NIDA". National Institute on Drug Abuse Archives. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Zuger, A. A General in the Drug War. New York Times, June 13, 2011.
  10. ^ "Drug Abuse, Addiction and the Brain". WebMD. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  11. ^ Shetty, Priya. "Nora Volkow-challenging the myths about drug addiction". The Lancet. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  12. ^ "An Interview with Nora D. Volkow, M.D." HBO Addiction. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  13. ^ "NEWSWEEK: Who's Next 2007". PR Newswire. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  14. ^ "The 2007 Time 100: Nora Volkow". Time. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  15. ^ Milk, Leslie. "June 2006: 100 Most Powerful Women". Washingtonian.
  16. ^ Milk, Leslie. "Washington's 100 Most Powerful Women". Washingtonian. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  17. ^ Davidson, Joe. "'Sammies' finalists honored on Capitol Hill". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  18. ^ "National Hispanic Scientist of the Year Day". City of Tampa Florida.
  19. ^ "Two NIH Institutes Share Emmy Award for HBO's The Addiction Project". National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  20. ^ "Hooked: Why bad habits are hard to break". 60 Minutes, CBS News. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  21. ^ Tuckman, Jo. "Trotsky's murder remembered by grandson, 72 years on". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  22. ^ "The Moth: The Brain's Addiction - Nora Volkow". World Science Festival. Retrieved 13 March 2015.

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