Translational Training in Addiction

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This proposal seeks competitive renewal (years 16-20) of the UAMS NIDA T32 training program “Translational Training in Addiction.” Spanning six academic departments and three Colleges, the program provides multi- level, cross-disciplinary, team science training that spans the translational research gamut from animal models to population-based approaches to solutions to curb or halt drug addiction. With program priorities of training innovation, diversity, connectivity, and outcomes, this renewal seeks further support for a program of training excellence that is dynamic and evolving in response to the rapidly changing societal, legislative, research, clinical, and community responses to addiction. The program Co-Directors, Governance and Steering Committees, and external evaluators/advisers enact the roles of program administration, connectivity, and oversight. A program evaluation plan is based on progress towards eight training objectives: (1) foster a shared knowledge of the broad societal and health impacts of drug use disorders, and of the diversity of engaged scientific disciplines, (2) provide an individualized path to diverse addiction impact career areas and maximize post-training outcomes, (3) foster diversity as a strength for maximizing program impact, (4) provide career building environments emphasizing interdisciplinary, team science, and translational research, (5) innovate advances in training approaches to research ethics, professional development, and program connectivity, (6) enhance awareness of and impact on translational outcomes, (7) evaluate both bibliometric and translational science benefit outcomes of the program, and (8) foster the engagement of physicians and other clinicians in the career building processes of the program. A Progress Report details significant outcomes for each objective; quantitative and qualitative data support the claim of program excellence in the current funding cycle. Continued support is requested for three levels of trainees involving three predoctoral students, four postdoctoral fellows, and four annual M2 summer addiction research interns, complemented by institutional support of one annual PGY3 psychiatry resident. Program-wide courses, faculty-facilitated seminar and presentation series, professional development lectures and workshops, and elective mentored research training emphasis/impact areas would support translational research training opportunities across the spectrum of T1 to T4 translational science. Mechanisms of trainee and program evaluation will focus on both scientific bibliometric and translational human health and society benefit indicators of program impact. Other feedback- driven new initiatives will include a redesigned grant writing skill development course and workshop, as well as a well-developed leadership succession plan. Significant institutional commitment and resources support the accrued value and continued success of the training program.