Training in drug abuse research: behavior and neurobiology

 描述(申请人提供)：本申请是对PA-11-184的回应，是一项名为“药物滥用研究培训：行为和神经生物学”的新计划的第一个竞争性延续，该计划为有志于在药物成瘾领域从事职业的博士后研究员提供研究培训和职业发展活动。在最初的4年中，该计划已从2个培训职位增加到5个，外加1个由UTHSCSA支持的职位，总数为6个。所有空缺职位都由高素质和 在该计划的支持下，全职进行成瘾研究的成功的年轻调查人员。完成该计划的学员将继续他们在生物医学科学方面的职业生涯，两名目前的学员最近接受了主要大学的终身教职跟踪助理教授职位，他们将在那里进行成瘾研究。到目前为止，78%的受训人员是妇女，33%的受训人员是代表不足的少数族裔。22名教师导师，包括6名由高级导师协助的初级导师，得到了美国国立卫生研究院和其他机构的充足资金，用于开展成瘾研究，他们的专业知识涵盖分子生物学、神经化学、行为和人类临床试验。除了为项目提供一个培训职位(过去2年，承诺未来5年)，UTHSCSA还为项目主任提供受保护的时间、行政支持，包括10%的项目协调员，以及为各种培训和教育活动提供财务支持，这些活动是项目的一部分，或作为项目的补充，包括新的博士后事务办公室。该方案由一名经验丰富的方案主任管理，并得到方案协调员以及内部和外部咨询委员会的协助。这项申请要求为这个新的、非常成功的博士后培训项目额外提供5年的支持(6个职位)，该项目致力于在行为和神经生物学成瘾研究方面提供严格的跨学科培训，从而满足对能够在当前翻译研究环境中取得成功的成瘾科学家日益增长的需求。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application in response to PA-11-184 is the first competing continuation of a new program entitled "Training in drug abuse research: behavior and neurobiology" that provides research training and career development activities for postdoctoral fellows who aspire to careers in the area of drug addiction. In its first 4 years the Program has grown from 2 to 5 training positions, plus 1 additional position supported by UTHSCSA for a total of 6. All of the available positions have been filled with highly qualified and successful young investigators who have conducted addiction research full time while supported by the Program. Trainees who completed the Program continue their careers in biomedical science and two current trainees recently accepted tenure-track assistant professor positions at major universities where they will conduct addiction research. To date, 78% of trainees have been women and 33% of trainees have been underrepresented minorities. The 22 faculty mentors, including 6 junior mentors that are assisted by senior mentors, are well funded by the NIH and other agencies to conduct addiction research, and their expertise spans molecular biology to neurochemistry, behavior, and human clinical trials. In addition to providing one training position for the Program (for the past 2 years and committed for the next 5 years), UTHSCSA provides protected time for the Program Director, administrative support, including 10% of the Program Coordinator, as well as financial support for a wide variety of training and educational activities that are part of, or complementary to, the Program, including a new Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. The Program is administered by an experienced Program Director with assistance from a Program Coordinator as well as Internal and External Advisory Committees. This application requests 5 additional years of support (6 positions) for this new and highly successful postdoctoral training program that strives to provide rigorous interdisciplinary trainin in behavioral and neurobiological addiction research, thereby addressing an increasing demand for addiction scientists who can succeed in the current translational research environment.