Interdisciplinary Training in Alcohol Research

Abstract This competing continuation application seeks an additional five years of support for a pre-doctoral interdisciplinary training program in research on alcohol and alcohol use disorders. The training program, led by co-directors Drs. Fillmore and Prendergast, is based in the Psychology Department at the University of Kentucky but includes preceptors from five departments and two colleges across the UK campus. The program provides graduate students with interdisciplinary training to effectively investigate and discover the intricacies and complexities of alcohol use disorders, at all levels of investigation from the cellular and neurophysiological systems to the roles of personality, social and environmental factors. The need for a translational and interdisciplinary program in the investigation of alcohol use disorders is great as advancements and discoveries continue to be made across multiple levels of investigation. This core expertise among our training faculty allows us to deliver a true interdisciplinary laboratory training experience on alcohol use disorders, not readily available, or duplicated elsewhere. The first period of this T32 award witnessed impressive accomplishments by our trainees as indicated by their publications, scholarly awards including F31s, and post- doctoral placements in research and clinical centers specializing in alcohol use disorders. This continuation application seeks to build on that success during the next award period.