Johns Hopkins K12 Research in Addictions Scholars Program (KRASP)

The overarching objective of the Johns Hopkins K12 Research in Addictions Scholars Program (KRASP) is to develop and support junior faculty from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, and Engineering to become independent, ethical, innovative, and transformative research leaders in addictions. Scholars will gain broad knowledge of research pathways in substance use and substance use disorders, develop the skills to apply, adapt and enhance research models, and collaborate within multidisciplinary team environments to advance and generate new knowledge to improve human health within the field of substance use. This Program brings together existing strengths within other programs at JHU, most notably the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) and its extensive resources for junior investigators including study design consultations, biostatistics assistance, and grant writing resources, and the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (BPRU) and its long-standing T32 postdoctoral training program. KRASP will complement other programs within JHU, leveraging, for example, resources from the ICTR's K12 program which trains researchers in translational sciences, to efficiently and synergistically operate these distinct but related programs. While these existing programs are highly successful, the KRASP will fill a critical need in providing a mechanism for supporting early-stage junior faculty as they develop their own addictions research careers. The currently proposed program will provide protected time, advanced didactic coursework, practical training in conducting research, exposure to innovative research approaches and technology, "hands-on" mentored research experiences, and comprehensive career development activities, creating an environment that encourages an interdisciplinary approach and maximizes the probability of successful careers in substance use research.