International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

What International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism does

The International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit scientific society founded in 1981 and headquartered in San Diego, California, with a mission to promote excellence internationally in all aspects of biomedical research on alcoholism and alcohol-related biomedical phenomena. ISBRA operates as the connective hub for six long-standing affiliated regional and national societies — APSAAR (Asia-Pacific), ESBRA (Europe), JMSAAS (Japan), LASBRA (Latin America), RSA (United States), and others — and holds official relations with the World Health Organization as a Non-Government Organization. Membership spans 580+ clinicians, scientists, and students across 39 countries and 6 continents.

ISBRA's product portfolio is organized around biennial international congresses (most recently Melbourne 2024, upcoming New Orleans 2025 and Paris 2027), a quarterly Bulletin newsletter, a bimonthly Podcast featuring expert interviews, and a structured awards program covering the Tabakoff Award, Hiromasa Ishii Award, Early Career Investigator Award, Diversity (UNIT) Award, Travel Award, and the newly inaugurated 2024 Presidential Lifetime Service Award. The society also curates a Research Grants portal surfacing international funding opportunities including NIAAA-sponsored awards.

Revenue is generated through tiered annual or biennial membership dues structured by World Bank country classification and career stage (Student, Early Career, Established Researcher), biennial congress registration fees, tax-deductible charitable donations, and NIAAA R13 grant funding for travel support. Distribution relies on the Wild Apricot membership platform, direct member email communications, social channels (Twitter, LinkedIn), and the affiliated-society network as the primary recruitment funnel for new members, with biennial congresses serving as the principal engagement and acquisition event.

Name

International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

Legal name

International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

Website

https://isbra.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISBRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit scientific society founded in 1981 that convenes 580+ clinicians, scientists, and students across 39 countries to advance biomedical research on alcoholism through biennial congresses, publications, and awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Scientific Society (Biomedical Research on Alcoholism)

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHAJAB

Life Sciences & Biotechnology Congresses

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Association, Government & Academic Congresses

SECONDARYMPAGAGAD

Academic & Scientific Conferences

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

Keywords

• Biomedical alcohol research
• Scientific membership society
• Alcohol research congress
• Researcher awards program
• Academic publication society

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and biennial membership dues varying by World Bank country classification (Category 1, 2, 3 & 4) and career stage (Student, Early Career Investigator, Established Researcher). New members receive promotional benefits.
2. Congress Registration Fees: Revenue from biennial international congresses on alcohol research, with members receiving discounted registration.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from members, former presidents, and supporters, particularly during financial crises.
4. NIAAA R13 Grant: Partial travel support funding from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for conference participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ISBRA is a professional scientific society that promotes excellence internationally in biomedical research on alcoholism through individual memberships, biennial World Congresses, awards programs, and publications (Bulletin and podcast). Members include clinicians, scientists, and students from 39 countries who gain access to congress registration discounts, travel support, peer-reviewed publication venues, and educational programming supported by affiliated regional societies and WHO NGO relations.

Product overview

The International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) is a professional membership society rather than a product company. The organization operates a suite of membership services including biennial World Congresses, awards programs (Early Career Investigator Award, Tabakoff Award, Diversity Award, Hiromasa Ishii Award, Travel Award, Presidential Lifetime Service Award), quarterly ISBRA Bulletin newsletters, bimonthly podcasts, and a research grants portal. These offerings support international collaboration, education, and recognition of researchers in alcohol and addiction biomedical science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISBRA Membership Annual or biennial membership providing scientists, clinicians, students, and early career investigators in alcohol and addiction research with access to the biennial congress at discounted rates, the quarterly Bulletin, the bimonthly podcast, awards eligibility, and global networking. Application is reviewed six times per year, with new student and ECI members receiving two years free.
• ISBRA World Congress Biennial international scientific meeting bringing together alcohol researchers, clinicians, and students for presentations, networking, and collaboration, typically co-hosted with affiliated societies (e.g., ISBRA-ESBRA-SF2A 2027 Paris, ISBRA-APSAAR 2024 Melbourne, 2025 New Orleans).
• ISBRA Bulletin Quarterly newsletter with research updates, expert interviews, conference reports, affiliated society news, and announcements delivered to ISBRA members.
• ISBRA Podcast Bimonthly audio podcast featuring interviews with alcohol research experts discussing topics including alcohol misuse in older populations, first-pass metabolism, and career journeys in biomedical alcohol research.
• ISBRA Tabakoff Award Biennial award for excellence across all aspects of biomedical research on alcoholism (basic and preclinical, translational and clinical work, genetics, and epidemiology); recipient presents plenary lecture at the ISBRA Congress.
• Early Career Investigator Award Monetary award and memento recognizing outstanding early career investigators (PhD students or post-docs/physicians up to 10 years post terminal degree), presented at the biennial ISBRA/RSA conference.
• ISBRA Diversity Award (UNIT Award) Award supporting underrepresented trainees and students in alcohol research (including those from developing countries and Black, Indigenous, Hispanic/Latin, African, Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, or Middle Eastern descent); includes registration waiver and up to $2,000 travel plus lab visit funding.
• Hiromasa Ishii Award Biennial award honoring Dr. Hiromasa Ishii's contributions to alcohol-induced organ disease research, presented at the ISBRA World Congress.
• ISBRA Travel Award Partial travel support funded by the NIAAA R13 grant for ISBRA members to present at the biennial congress; priority to Early Career Investigators and scientists from underrepresented demographic groups or countries.
• ISBRA Presidential Lifetime Service Award Award recognizing long-standing dedication and service to ISBRA, inaugurated in 2024 for members exhibiting sustained contribution to the society.
• Research Grants Portal Resource portal listing international funding opportunities for biomedical research on alcoholism, including ISBRA travel grants and NIAAA international projects of merit.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Asia-Pacific Society for Alcohol and Addiction Research (APSAAR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981Long-standing affiliated society partner representing the Asia-Pacific region in ISBRA's global network. APSAAR members receive streamlined ISBRA membership and participate in joint congresses.
• European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ESBRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981European regional partner society. ESBRA holds biennial conferences in years between ISBRA Congresses, with joint congresses (e.g., 2016 Berlin, 2027 Paris) strengthening European collaboration.
• Japanese Medical Society of Alcohol and Addiction Studies (JMSAAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981Japanese national society partner representing Japan in ISBRA's international network. Provides member access and collaboration opportunities for Japanese researchers.
• Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981Regional society partner representing Latin American researchers in the ISBRA network. Facilitates cross-border collaboration in alcohol research.
• Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981US-based partner society with joint congress history (e.g., joint meetings in 2008, 2014, 2025). RSA holds annual conferences while ISBRA holds biennial congresses, providing complementary platforms.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISBRA holds official relations with WHO as a Non-Government Organization (NGO). This status enables ISBRA to contribute to international policy discussions on alcohol use disorder and participate in WHO initiatives.
• NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIAAA provides R13 grant funding for partial travel support to ISBRA members presenting at congresses. NIAAA also funds international projects of particular merit through ISBRA.
• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerISBRA receives 0.5% donations from eligible AmazonSmile purchases, providing additional fundraising channel for the non-profit.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Japanese Medical Society of Alcohol and Addiction Studies (JMSAAS): JMSAAS is ISBRA's Japan-focused affiliated society covering alcohol and addiction studies; comparable as a national/regional biomedical alcohol research society with similar membership and conference models.
• Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA): RSA is the US-based sister society of ISBRA, holding joint congresses and sharing membership pathways; both focus on alcohol research and operate as the primary scientific societies in the US/global alcohol research community respectively.
• Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA): LASBRA is ISBRA's Latin American affiliated society; a regional peer society focused on biomedical research on alcoholism with similar scientific mission and conference activities.
• Asia-Pacific Society for Alcohol and Addiction Research (APSAAR): APSAAR is ISBRA's Asia-Pacific affiliated society, representing regional alcohol researchers and co-hosting joint congresses (e.g., 2024 Melbourne); directly comparable as a regional biomedical research society on alcohol.
• European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ESBRA): ESBRA is ISBRA's European affiliated society, holding biennial conferences in alternating years and joint congresses (e.g., 2016 Berlin, 2027 Paris); both are biomedical research societies focused on alcohol with shared membership pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Society for Neuroscience (SfN): SfN is a much larger global scientific society hosting major annual neuroscience conferences; comparable in operating model (membership society, annual/biennial meetings, journal, awards) but with substantially broader scientific scope.
• International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM): ISAM is an international medical professional organization focused on addiction medicine; comparable as a global membership society holding congresses on addiction including alcohol use disorder, with broader clinical scope than ISBRA's biomedical focus.
• European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP): ECNP is a European scientific society covering neuropsychopharmacology including addiction research; comparable as a membership society hosting congresses and supporting research on alcohol/addiction, though with a broader pharmacological scope.
• College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD): CPDD is the largest US organization dedicated to advancing substance use science including alcohol; comparable as a scientific membership society hosting annual meetings and publishing addiction research, with a broader substance scope than ISBRA.

Emerging players

• Research Society on Alcoholism (duplicate - skipped): Placeholder reserved

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism