# Training in Molecular Pharmacology of Abused Drugs

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2021 · $493,390

## Abstract

Project Summary
The University of Washington training program in the Molecular Pharmacology of Abused Drugs is designed to
provide a cohesive training environment for five predoctoral and five postdoctoral fellows per year, interested in
the molecular, cellular and behavioral pharmacological aspects of opioid, cannabinoid, and psychostimulant drug
action, and their abuse. The program emphasizes training in research skills along with career development
professional skills and responsible conduct of research-ethical skills. Faculty mentors provide training in a broad
range of research approaches including molecular pharmacology, electrophysiology, neurochemistry,
neuroinflammation, mouse genetics, viral-based gene expression, optogenetics, chemogenetics and behavioral
pharmacology. In addition to the general, ongoing training typical at this vibrant institution, trainees in this
program experience a coordinated series of events specifically designed for their benefit including invited speaker
seminar sessions featuring internationally respected drug abuse researchers; monthly research progress meetings
featuring local experts in abused drug research; weekly journal clubs on the current literature of opioid,
cannabinoid and psychostimulant research; frequent opportunities for the trainees to enhance their presentation
skills; courses organized for them on the 'Molecular Basis of Addiction' and 'Addiction: Mechanisms, Treatment,
Prevention'; and career development seminars designed to strengthen their scientific and professional
foundations. Faculty mentors are highly collaborative, and trainees benefit from a strongly interactive,
multidisciplinary research program. The training program will continue to be a catalyst for research collaborations
among the participating labs, for technology transfer between labs, and for newly funded collaborative NIDA-
research grants. The trainees are drawn from an outstanding pool of candidates recruited to the participating
graduate programs in Pharmacology and Neuroscience and to the well-respected laboratories as post-doctoral
fellows. We have an active outreach program designed to encourage participation of underrepresented minorities
and fellows from disadvantaged backgrounds. We actively train our students and fellows in responsible conduct of
research and ethical treatment of animal subjects. The program is proud of its 25-year history of success in training
fellows who have gone on to very successful scientific careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10236273
- **Project number:** 5T32DA007278-28
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Paul E. M. Phillips
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $493,390
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1993-08-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10236273

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10236273, Training in Molecular Pharmacology of Abused Drugs (5T32DA007278-28). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10236273. Licensed CC0.

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