Neural and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Abused Drugs

描述（由申请人提供）：物质滥用和成瘾性疾病构成了一个主要的，高影响的健康问题。德克萨斯大学医学分支（UTMB）的滥用药物的神经和药理学机制（T32 DA 07287）的培训补助金的这种竞争性更新建议通过指导下一代科学家准备并致力于寻找答案来解决成瘾问题和有效解决方案之间的巨大差距。培训计划的总体目标是为新生科学家提供知识基础，技术专长和专业技能，以推进成瘾知识，并将这些进步推向新的治疗方法。22名教师导师/共同导师拥有丰富的培训和职业发展成功经验，广泛的合作网络和利用现代技术进行转化成瘾研究的专业知识。我们的目标是在药物滥用和成瘾的神经基础，药物发现和药物开发，以及药物滥用和成瘾的医疗后果方面提供示范性的转化研究培训。实现这些目标的战略包括提供资金充足，最先进的研究机会和设施，有效的指导和监测计划，具有挑战性的课程和支持性的互动计划（例如，短期临床轮换，期刊俱乐部，工作组，研讨会），以及一流的计划活动，发展迈向独立职业所需的专业技能。我们努力的高潮是我们的学员成功地成为完整的当代科学家，他们配备了工具来推进对成瘾的机械理解，并将这些进展推向新的治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Substance abuse and addictive disorders constitute a major, high-impact health problem. This competitive renewal of the training grant Neural and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Abused Drugs (T32DA07287) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) proposes to address the large gap between the problem of addiction and efficacious solutions by mentoring the next generation of scientists prepared and committed to the search for answers. The overarching goal of the Training Program is to provide nascent scientists with the knowledge base, technical expertise and professional skills needed to advance knowledge in the addictions and to move these advances toward new therapeutics. The 22 faculty mentors/co-mentors have a wealth of training and career development successes, extensive collaborative networks and expertise in translational addiction research conducted with modern technologies. Our objectives are to provide exemplary training in translational research in the neural bases for drug abuse and addiction, drug discovery and medications development, and the medical consequences of drug abuse and addiction. Strategies to achieve these objectives include providing well-funded, state-of-the-art research opportunities and facilities, effective mentoring and monitoring plans, challenging curricula and supportive interactive programs (e.g., short-term clinical rotations, journal clubs, workgroups, seminars), and first-rate program activities that develop the professional skills needed for advancement towards an independent career. The culmination of our efforts is the success of our trainees as complete, contemporary scientists equipped with the tools to advance the mechanistic understanding of addiction and move these advances toward new therapeutic approaches to its treatment.