Training in Research on Addictions in Interdisciplinary NeuroAIDS (TRAIN)

描述(由申请者提供)：跨学科神经艾滋病成瘾研究培训(TRAIN)关于药物滥用和艾滋病毒感染对大脑结构和功能的综合影响的跨学科临床研究与公共卫生倡议具有相当大的相关性。然而，目前进行这种研究的实验室很少，目前也没有专门为成瘾和神经艾滋病交叉点的临床研究培养下一代研究人员的培训计划。因此，我们建议设立一个新的Ruth L.Kirschstein国家研究服务奖机构培训补助金(NRSA T32)，名为“跨学科神经艾滋病成瘾研究培训(TRAIN)”。培训的目的是为临床神经心理学的四名博士前学生和两名博士后研究员在多学科学术生涯中专注于药物滥用和艾滋病毒感染对中枢神经系统(CNS)的影响做好准备。我们将招募一批高素质和文化多样性的受训人员，这些受训人员将展示出实现富有成效的学术生涯的希望。培训计划将强调三个相互关联的主要中枢神经系统结果的研究培训，之所以选择这三个结果，是因为它们的重要性和与公共卫生的相关性，作为艾滋病毒感染药物滥用者的临床特征：(1)神经认知障碍(例如，决策、记忆)；(2)日常功能(例如，服药依从性、职业结果)；(3)结构和功能神经成像(例如，扩散张量成像)。学生和研究员将积极参与个性化的、灵活的职业发展计划，其中包括应用研究培训、教学(例如，正式的课堂作业和有组织的研讨会)和有针对性的临床经验。具有强烈培训兴趣和长期合作研究历史的有成就的教员将可以指导受训者。培训教师由来自多个学科的20名导师组成，他们在神经损伤、神经成像、神经心理学以及药物滥用和艾滋病毒感染的日常运作方面拥有相当大的专业知识。列车将由史蒂文·保罗·伍兹博士和联席主任伊戈尔·格兰特博士和罗伯特·K·希顿博士领导，他们将监督该计划的所有培训、科学和行政方面，包括严格的内部和外部评估过程。该培训项目将设在加州大学圣地亚哥分校精神病学系内，该项目将受益于资源丰富的学术环境，其中包括强大的药物滥用和神经艾滋病研究基础设施，最引人注目的是NIDA资助的翻译甲基苯丙胺艾滋病研究中心(TMARC)。总而言之，TRAIN将汇聚一批聪明多样的博士后和博士后学员，一支经验丰富的多学科导师团队，一个有效的管理结构，以及广泛的学术资源，以培养国家的下一代学者，他们将推动药物滥用和神经艾滋病的科学和实践。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Training in Research on Addictions in Interdisciplinary NeuroAIDS (TRAIN) Interdisciplinary clinical research on the combined effects of substance abuse and HIV infection on brain structure and function is of considerable relevance to public health initiatives. However, there are presently very few laboratories conducting such research and no current training programs dedicated to preparing the next generation of investigators in clinical research at the intersection of addictions and neuroAIDS. Accordingly, we propose to establish a new Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Training Grant (NRSA T32) entitled, "Training in Research on Addictions in Interdisciplinary NeuroAIDS (TRAIN)." The aim of TRAIN is to prepare a steady state of four pre-doctoral students and two post-doctoral fellows in clinical neuropsychology for multidisciplinary academic careers focused on the central nervous system (CNS) effects of substance abuse and HIV infection. We will recruit a highly qualified and culturally diverse cohort of trainees that demonstrate promise toward achieving productive academic careers. The TRAIN program will emphasize research training in three primary, interrelated CNS outcomes, which were selected because of their salience and public health relevance as clinical features of HIV-infected substance abusers: (1) neurocognitive impairment (e.g., decision-making, memory); (2) everyday functioning (e.g., medication adherence, vocational outcomes); and (3) structural and functional neuroimaging (e.g., diffusion tensor imaging). Students and fellows will be actively engaged in individualized, flexible career development plans that will include applied research training, didactics (e.g., formal class work and structured seminars), and targeted clinical experiences. An accomplished faculty with strong training interests and a long history of collaborative research will be available to mentor the trainees. The TRAIN faculty consists of 20 mentors across multiple academic disciplines that possess considerable expertise in neural injury, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, and everyday functioning in substance abuse and HIV infection. TRAIN will be led by Dr. Steven Paul Woods and Co-Directors, Drs. Igor Grant and Robert K. Heaton, who will oversee all of the training, scientific, and administrative aspects of the program, including a rigorous process of internal and external evaluation. The TRAIN program will be housed within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, where it will benefit from a resource rich academic environment that includes a strong substance abuse and neuroAIDS research infrastructure, most notably the NIDA-funded Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center (TMARC). In summary, TRAIN will bring together a bright and diverse cohort of pre- and post-doctoral trainees, an accomplished multidisciplinary team of mentors, an effective administrative structure, and broad array of academic resources to prepare the Nation's next generation of academics who will advance the science and practice of substance abuse and neuroAIDS.