Brief History

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of neuroimmune pharmacological research, the roots of research in this area are quite diverse. The main root that nourished the evolution of The Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology (SNIP), and the conferences in this area that it sponsors, is connected to studies aimed at defining the ability of drugs of abuse to modulate immune function.

In 1983, interest in neuro-immuno-pharmacological research was promoted significantly by the emerging realization that opiate addicts are both reservoirs for, and transmitters of AIDS. This fact prompted NIDA to sponsor their first of many technical reviews in the area. Continuity of dissemination was maintained principally by the CPDD, who annually held symposia on neuro-immune-pharmacology and also co-sponsored the earliest SNIP Satellite Conferences, starting in 1992.

The main root underlying the formation of SNIP connects directly to the 1992 meeting of the CPDD. A meeting was organized as a satellite to the 1993 CPDD meeting in Toronto. Since that meeting, a series of conferences, all sponsored by NIDA-funded meeting-grants, have been held at various venues, as both independent meetings and satellites to larger conferences as listed here.

SNIP became a formal entity in 2000, with recruitment of 51 Charter Members and incorporation in the State of Georgia. The Interim Executive Officers and Council met formally at the first official SNIP Conference at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, in March 2001.

Other important initiatives include recognition awards such as the Joe Wybran Award, the Herman Friedman Founders Award, the Distinguished Service Award, and the Outstanding Service and Support Award. Since 1993, the Society has also sponsored the Arthur Falek Young Investigator Travel Award (YITA). A big step came in 2006-7 when the SNIP Council approved formation of its own Journal (originally JNIP, now NIPT).

See also the mission statement and society bylaws.