Scientific Training in Addiction Research Techniques (START) for gifted future investigators from historically underrepresented and underserved backgrounds.

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PROJECT SUMMARY National and global substance misuse challenges require sustainable pipelines of elite investigators with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and talents. Despite initiatives to promote diversity, certain groups remain grossly underrepresented in the field. Many URM and disadvantaged scholars face multidimensional historical and social obstacles that limit their access to the early enrichment, rigorous training, effective mentoring, nourishing environments and financial support necessary to become drug misuse scientists. There is a publication and funding award disparity between traditional students versus URM, disadvantaged or first- generation investigators. These disparities are due in part to training gaps that occur in undergraduate matriculation and have domino effects throughout one’s career to adversely affect employment, tenure qualifications, and other aspects of academic life. The scarcity of URM scholars in drug abuse research is particularly problematic as minority and disadvantaged communities have historically suffered disproportionately from substance misuse crises. It is essential that we arrest these trends by developing optimal training programs for URM scholars. To that end, we propose a year-long comprehensive research education program titled “Scientific Training in Addiction Research Techniques (START) for gifted future investigators from historically underrepresented and underserved backgrounds.” START specifically prepares investigators to access, analyze, and disseminate data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study through both mentored research experiences and didactic skill-building courses. The ABCD Study is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States and uses an “open science” framework to make all data publicly available. Trainees will complete coursework to support their professional development, and will complete an independent, mentored research project using ABCD data. Start scholars will present and/or publish their scientific findings, and a comprehensive program evaluation will monitor trainees, mentors, and the program as a whole. The overarching goal of START is to create a diverse pipeline of substance misuse clinical researchers who are trained in the analysis and dissemination of data from the ABCD study.