Postdoctoral Training in Drug Abuse Research: Behavior & Neurobiology

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ABSTRACT This application responds to PA-20-142 and is the second competing continuation of a postdoctoral training program entitled “Training in drug abuse research: behavior and neurobiology” at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). This Program has become an integral component of the recently launched Addiction Research, Treatment & Training Center of Excellence, the umbrella organization for a large variety of activities related to substance use disorder (SUD) on campus and extending into the San Antonio community. During the current period of support, all 6 training positions were filled with fellows selected from a pool of highly qualified applications. Since 2016, a total of 14 trainees have been or are currently supported by the Program, including 11 women (78%); 4 of the trainees (28%) are underrepresented minorities. Among 10 fellows that completed training, 8 are in academic positions. During the current period of support, trainees published 40 manuscripts (28 as first author), submitted 11 grant applications, and made 111 presentations at scientific meetings. Increasingly trainees are participating in community outreach activities, advocating for SUD research, education, and treatment. This Program sponsors numerous career development activities, many of which are attended by students and fellows, in addition to trainees in this Program. The well- funded research programs of the 18 Regular and 3 Junior faculty mentors span cell signaling to neurochemistry, preclinical behavioral pharmacology, and human clinical trials. The Program enjoys outstanding financial and other support from UTHSCSA (e.g., 10% salary for the Director), including an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs that offers many programs on career development, grant writing, and teaching, among others. Program Leadership includes a Director, Associate Director, Coordinator, and an Internal Advisory Committee. An External Advisory Committee evaluates the Program as part of an annual Advisory Committee Meeting in San Antonio; the details and operation of the Program as well as the training experience of fellows have improved as a result of recommendations by the Advisory Committees. The training environment at UTHSCSA is outstanding and includes excellent seminars, grand rounds, journal clubs (including the Addiction Journal Club hosted by this Program), formal training in rigor and reproducibility, formal training in the responsible conduct of research, and an annual international SUD meeting entitled Behavior, Biology & Chemistry: Translational Research in Addiction. This competing continuation requests 5 additional years of support for 6 positions in this highly successful, vibrant Program that is contributing to the NIDA mission of recruiting and training the next generation of SUD researchers.