# Minding A Mid-America Gap: NIDA/NIAAA Epidemiology Research Training for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians in Currently Under-Served Areas

> **NIH NIH R25** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $315,879

## Abstract

When we used NIH Project Reporter mapping tools in late 2018, we were able to see a major mid-America gap
in NIDA investments for Epidemiology Branch research in relation to active training programs as well as
active research projects. At the same time, the Epidemiology Branch and the NIH in general are fostering new
workshops and expanding established workshop programs that are intended to increase the harvest of
important epidemiological evidence from existing datasets (e.g., Monitoring the Future) and newly emerging
datasets (e.g., ABCD, PATH, ‘All of Us’). The proposed Epidemiology-focused R25 program seeks to address
this ‘Mid-America gap’ in epidemiology focused clinical research training and to increase the numbers of
epidemiologically adept scientists who can take advantage of these workshops and become more competitive
in applications for NIDA F-type, entry K-type, and R-type awards to support their science discovery processes
and apply their skills to better address substance abuse problems in mid-America.
This application proposes five years of NIDA R25 support for a new ‘Epidemiology in mid-American States’
(EPIMAS) science education initiative with novel NIDA Epidemiology Branch-focused clinical research
training plan that blends a core program of ‘Research Experiences’ (RE) with complementary ‘Courses for
Skills Development’ (CSD). The EPIMAS program originates with a four-university consortium that was
formed to address an imbalanced distribution of NIDA Epidemiology Branch T32 training programs and
active R01 research projects in mid-America. The lead partner university in this consortium is Professor Jim
Anthony at Michigan State University (MSU), who is joined by West Virginia University (WVU, local site PI:
Professor Gordon Smith), Kansas University (KU, local site PI: Professor Richard Yi), and Indiana University
(IU, local site PI: Professor David Allison), each of whom brings complementary strengths to the initiative.
The specific aims and objectives of the EPIMAS program are: (1) To increase the number of epidemiologically
adept scientists who can compete successfully for NIDA Epidemiology Branch funding; (2) To increase the
pool of scientists capable of basic and advanced epidemiological analysis approaches in preparation for their
participation in NIDA-supported workshops, and (3) To foster development of new NIDA Epidemiology-
focused T32 programs at WVU, KU, and IU, and a renovation of the NIDA Drug Dependence Epidemiology
Training Program at MSU.
The proposed program seeks strength by having the four partner universities working together on this
unprecedented NIDA Epidemiology-focused R25 initiative, and on R25 program enhancement of four
epidemiology-focused NIDA T32 programs in these under-served states of mid-America.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10013623
- **Project number:** 1R25DA051249-01
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES Christopher ANTHONY
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $315,879
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10013623

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10013623, Minding A Mid-America Gap: NIDA/NIAAA Epidemiology Research Training for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians in Currently Under-Served Areas (1R25DA051249-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10013623. Licensed CC0.

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