CPDD Renames the Mentorship Award to the Robert Balster Mentorship Award
Brentwood, TN – July 30, 2024 – The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) is proud to announce the establishment of the Robert Balster Mentorship Award, as a tribute to Dr. Robert Balster’s distinguished career as a scholar, exceptional mentor, and long-time CPDD member. This award will now take the place of the annual CPDD Mentorship award that was established in 2000 to recognize members who provided exemplary mentorship to researchers in the field of drug dependence. Dr. Balster was the first recipient of the CPDD Mentorship Award in 2000.
"Dr. Robert Balster’s contributions to training and mentorship are immeasurable, and CPDD is honored to create the Robert Balster Mentorship Award to commemorate his remarkable scientific contributions, excellence in mentoring, and unwavering support to scientists establishing their research independence. The Robert Balster Mentorship Award will serve as an enduring recognition and tribute to Dr. Balster’s impact on the field of addiction research and substance use prevention” said CPDD’s President Dr. Kelly Dunn.
Dr. Balster has a strong legacy in the substance use field. He is a Past President of the CPDD, a former member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence, and a member of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Abuse Advisory Committee. From 1998 to 2010 he was the Editor-in-Chief of CPDD’s international journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence and in 2014 he chaired the WHO Guideline Development Group on the Management of Opioid Overdose. In recent years, Dr. Balster has focused his efforts on research administration, translational and implementation science, tobacco regulatory science, drug medication development, international health, and training program development. He has published more than 290 papers in scientific journals, two edited books, and more than 50 book chapters.
Dr. Balster has been recognized by the field for these efforts through receipt of the CPDD Nathan B. Eddy Award for career contributions in addiction research and the American Psychological Association’s Brady-Schuster Award and the APA Award for Distinguished Service to Psychological Science. He has also been awarded the NIDA International Program’s Excellence in Mentorship Award in recognition of his exceptional guidance to persons conducting NIDA-supported research and leadership in the development of an international community of scientists who exchange information and collaborate on substance use research nationally, regionally, and globally. As Dr. Dunn noted “The establishment of the CPDD Robert Balster Mentorship Award epitomizes Dr. Balster’s commitment to elevating the careers of those devoted to advancing the science of addiction.” Members seeking to nominate individuals for this award can learn more about the process via: https://cpdd.org/awards/awards-for-excellence/..
About CPDD
The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) is the oldest and largest organization in the US dedicated to advancing a scientific approach to substance use and addictive disorders. CPDD actively promotes basic scientific research in all aspects of substance abuse and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and new discoveries among scientists of diverse backgrounds, both nationally and internationally.