Research Training in Drug Abuse Behavior

抽象/总结

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY This continuation application proposes to support three (3) pre-doctoral and three (3) post-doctoral trainees with 24 faculty from six (6) colleges and 10 departments across the University of Kentucky. The accomplishments of our trainees exemplify the success of this training program. Forty-seven (47) percent of trainees from 15 years ago have received funding from NIH. Trainees from the past 10 years are also beginning to experience success in terms of acquiring extramural funding (i.e., 17% obtained NIH funding). Trainees (N=14) from the most recent funding period authored 157 publications and regularly presented their research findings at local, national, or international conferences. All of these trainees remain involved in research or academics. Individuals from under-represented minorities comprised the 14% of the most recent cohort. Individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds comprised the 21% of the most recent cohort of trainees. The program is designed to prepare trainees to assume translational and multidisciplinary research responsibilities in academic and other scientific organizations concerned with substance-use disorders (SUDs). Pre-doctoral trainees concentrate in translational and interdisciplinary aspects of SUDs as part of a doctoral program in a behavioral science discipline (e.g., psychology, sociology). Post-doctoral fellows have a doctorate in a behavioral science discipline and are preparing for a research role in SUDs, or they are health professionals seeking translational and interdisciplinary training in a behavioral orientation in SUDs research. Basic elements of the program include: (1) training in the basic building blocks of research (e.g., experimental design, data analysis) and independent research competence; (2) a translational and interdisciplinary orientation taking students beyond their basic discipline and providing exposure to key theoretical concepts and methodological issues of the related behavioral sciences along with a bio-behavioral conceptualization; (3) professional development to support a career in SUDs research; (4) exploration of SUDs topics from a medical-behavioral perspective through courses offered by training faculty; and (5) opportunities for research around relevant questions in SUDs constituting a dissertation project for pre-doctoral trainees. We individually tailor the post-doctoral program to the objectives of the fellows to build on their previous knowledge and experience while drawing on the core elements of the training program. The rich environment provides opportunities for translational and multidisciplinary bio-behavioral research. This T32 is unique in being the only institutional training grant at the University Kentucky funded by NIDA and dedicated to the study of SUDs. The need for a translational and interdisciplinary program such as the one proposed for continuation here is greater today than ever before. The United States is gripped by an unprecedented SUD and overdose crisis.