Dr. Rao RapakaDr. Rao Rapaka, chief of the Basic Neurobiology and Biological Systems Branch in NIDA's Division of Basic Research, is the 1997 recipient of the J. Michael Morrison Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD). Dr. Rapaka was recognized for his unwavering commitment to the advancement of science toward providing solutions to drug abuse in our society. He was cited for outstanding leadership and administrative skills and for providing enthusiasm and technical expertise to investigators.
Dr. Rapaka has been involved in the development of NIDA's Drug Research Resource Program, which ensures that chemicals and drugs are available to grantees to further their research. He has published more than 100 research articles and a variety of reviews that have drawn attention to specific problems in substance abuse and to novel approaches to their solutions. A fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Dr. Rapaka served as an associate editor for the AAPS journal Pharmaceutical Research and as the 1997 chairman of the Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry section of AAPS.
The College on Problems of Drug Dependence presents the Morrison Award every other year for outstanding contributions in the area of scientific administration related to research on drugs of abuse. The award was presented to Dr. Rapaka at CPDD's 1997 Scientific Meeting in Nashville.