Advancing equity,diversity, and inclusion in the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP): advances,challenges, and opportunities to accelerate progress

It is increasingly accepted that higher levels of excellence and innovation in research can be achieved by organizations that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion across several domains including ethnicity and gender. The purpose of this commentary is to provide an overview of the methods used to increase diversity within ACNP, as well as recommendations for accelerating progress. Annual membership surveys confirm increases in female membership and leadership positions, slower but encouraging signals for “Asian” and “Hispanic” members, and less progress for African American and other ethnic populations. Meetings have become visibly more diverse, due in part to ethnic minority travel awards and apparently increasing diversity among guest attendees. Evidence of increasing inclusion includes well-attended networking events and minority-relevant programming, active communications about diversity-related events and resources, and strong statements by ACNP leadership that embrace diversity as a core value and support collaboration among key committees and task forces to identify and implement pro-inclusion and diversity-enhancing efforts. We believe ACNP can accelerate progress with more scientifically valid approaches to assessing diversity and inclusion. The current membership survey includes five outmoded ethnic options and postmeeting surveys that are not designed to assess inclusion efforts and consequences. Measures should be developed that better characterize diversity and assess efforts to reduce the barriers that exist for potential non-White populations (e.g., annual membership and meeting attendance costs). Increased collaboration with NIH and other organizations that are committed to these same goals may also contribute to acceleration of progress by ACNP and other scientific organizations.Subject terms: Medical research, Neuroscience     

Identification and characterisation of ten microsatellite loci in the Noisy Scrub-bird Atrichornis clamosus using next-generation sequencing technology

The Noisy Scrub-bird is an endangered species of songbird endemic to the south coast of Western Australia that has undergone a major and prolonged population bottleneck. Using shotgun 454 next-generation DNA sequencing we have identified and characterised ten polymorphic microsatellite loci in this species. Observed allelic diversity was relatively low (2–5 alleles per locus) and significant deviations from Hardy–weinberg Equilibrium observed, although the presence of null alleles was only postulated for two loci. The microsatellite loci characterised in this study will be useful in a future population genetics studies in this endangered species.