Substance Use Disorders Treatment/Services Research Training Program

This postdoctoral training program based at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is in its 29th year. The program develops researchers in substance use disorders (SUD) treatment and services to conduct impactful research, using rigorous methods, to address the most pressing challenges in the SUD field. Our individually-tailored and mentorship-based training model is complemented by a core curriculum and course options to enhance trainees’ skills in clinical trials (including behavioral and pharmacological interventions) and health services research. To date, we have trained 70+ doctoral-level psychologists, physicians, nurses, public health, epidemiology and policy professionals for academic and research careers; 85% of those trained in the past 10 years remain in research. In our current 5-year cycle, we have achieved a successful transition to new PI/PD leadership, integrated a new cohort of well-funded faculty mentors working in broad high-priority areas, and enhanced the research training we provide. This enables us to build on past successes while also moving into new directions. Specifically, during the next five years, our training themes will focus on: 1) the most current, pressing aspects of SUD/HIV prevention and care, e.g., those most susceptible to HIV infection and poor outcomes as well as overdose; 2) strategies for accelerating health advancements in for those who have been most significantly affected by SUD; 3) testing digital health-based SUD treatments such as cognitive therapeutics and social media interventions in clinical trials; 4) integrated care models and use of electronic health record (EHR) data from public and private health systems; and 5) emerging opportunities in innovative therapeutics and delivery models, including studies to prevent opioid overdose and to examine the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted treatment. Accordingly, the program has integrated a range of training innovations and resources supporting these themes. The program environment provides outstanding training resources with linkages to multiple sites, academic centers and activities that supplement the training experience, including Kaiser Permanente Northern California, the new UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, the San Francisco VA Health Care System, the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and the NIDA Clinical Trials Network. The program is led by 2 Directors and 2 Site Directors, an Executive Committee of investigators, and has guidance from a Scientific and Training Advisory Committee of national leaders. Core faculty members include experts in psychology, psychiatry, neurology, biostatistics, nursing, public health, and epidemiology. Faculty have strong histories of collaboration and mentorship, extensive experience in obtaining extramural funding, and outstanding productivity in SUD treatment and services research. Our program is ideally placed to continue its track record of success, with strategic integration of new innovations and faculty, to train the next generation of treatment and services researchers to conduct high-impact SUD research.