Well attended success as U-FOLD arranged Göran Gustafsson Symposium 2024

“It turned out exactly what we aimed for: Fantastic lectures, an engaged audience and active networking during the breaks. My impression is that the majority in the auditorium were very pleased with the day. As organisers, we bring with us several valuable perspectives that we hope to turn into new forums in the near future.”

What does the prestigious assignment to arrange a Göran Gustafsson Symposium mean for U-FOLD?
“The collaboration with the Göran Gustafsson Foundation provides both important inspiration and a partly new direction for us, but above all the opportunity to welcome Andrew Holmes – a world-leading researcher in all aspects – to Uppsala. This provided a remarkable mix of frontline international findings and the situation we face in Sweden, which I am certain added extra value to everyone attending.”

What made Andrew Holmes prioritise lecturing in Sweden and Uppsala?
“Already when we first contacted Holmes and presented the interdisciplinary structure of the symposium, he was positive. That we also offered a long foresight, a research focus aligning with his and Uppsala University's strong international reputation naturally helped. In hindsight, he gave a superb lecture at the absolute highest scientific level, but in a way where the content was accessible to everyone.”

Is future collaboration with Holmes on the map?
“I really hope so. At a follow-up Q&A session with our PhD students, even more of our many points of contact were illuminated, and this Friday, Andrew Holmes will visit the Biomedical Center for a tour of our laboratories and ongoing research.”

Once again, U-FOLD must bring out the "Full House" sign. What explains this enormous interest in your forums?
“Listening to our visitors, it is obvious that U-FOLD's success lies in our interdisciplinary mix. We bring together basic dependence research, new findings, prevention and treatment to shed light on current issues that engage both academia, profession and politics. Regardless of how established you are in the fields of addiction, you always bring new perspectives with you from our events.”

What's up next at U-FOLD?
“Already Tuesday 14 May, we are arranging a seminar on gambling disorder in collaboration with our partners Region Uppsala and the County Administrative Board. We are also busy preparing our twelwth consecutive Almedalen Week, where we will highlight, among many things, the highly topical Drug Commission of Inquiry and how to prevent criminal gangs from recruiting young people. That we are presenting several high profiled panels makes me convinced that we will make a distinct impression in Visby.”

FACTS

• Göran Gustafsson's Foundation support basic research in the fields of medicine and engineering physics. The foundation's operations are based on donations by Göran Gustafsson (1919–2003), honorary member of Uppsala University.
• U-FOLD, Uppsala University's Forum for research on drug dependence and addiction, was inaugurated in Uppsala in 2011 as a regional gathering of forces against the challenges of addiction.
• Today U-FOLD gather approximately twenty organisations working together for a better society.

LEARN MORE

• U-FOLD online
• Göran Gustafsson Foundation
• Göran Gustafsson Symposium 2024
• Motgiftet naloxon blir receptfritt men räcker det? (Altinget)
• Dags att avsluta katt-och-råtta-leken, Sverige (Altinget)

CONTACT

Text: Magnus Alsne, photo: U-FOLD