PROJECT SUMMARY - SUBSTANCE USE SCIENTIFIC WORKING GROUP The Texas Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR) is based at Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor) and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute (TxBiomed) in San Antonio. It will establish a Substance Use Scientific Working Group (SU- SWG). Substance use trends in the state of Texas are similar to the nation as a whole in showing an increase in opioid use and related emergency department visits and overdose deaths in recent years. Equally concerning are recent trends in the use of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol. Substance use and HIV are inextricably linked. Substance use is a well-established risk factor for transmission of the virus. For people living with HIV, substance use and addiction can hasten the progression of HIV and its consequences. Despite its significant impact on HIV, the intersection of substance use and HIV has been an underdeveloped research area, especially in areas of the US with weaker substance use treatment infrastructures like Texas. The proposed Texas D-CFAR SU-SWG will foster a robust research program in three areas that align with the proposed D-CFAR to fill this gap: 1) substance use as a co-factor for transmission of HIV; 2) impact of substance use on progression of HIV and its consequences; 3) novel treatment approaches for HIV prevention and treatment for individuals who use substances. The SU-SWG will support research in these areas by developing key resources, services, pilot funding opportunities, and by fostering discussions and collaborations between Texas D-CFAR members. To achieve its goals, the SU-SWG will: 1) Work with the proposed Cores and Core services to develop and support substance use as a critical area of research focus for ending HIV and optimizing HIV health in Texas. 2) Inform the Texas D-CFAR community about ongoing and future research on the intersection of substance use and HIV, both at our D-CFAR, nationally, and internationally. 3) Inform the D-CFAR community about external funding opportunities on substance use, provide pilot project funding opportunities through the Developmental Core, and catalyze collaborations. 4) Expand the SU-SWG by opening membership to substance use and HIV researchers and trainees at other Texas institutions. To achieve these aims, the D-CFAR has assembled a group of established and early stage investigators in both HIV and substance use to bring together in the SU-SWG to foster research in the intersection of these two epidemics. The SU-SWG includes persons with deep connections to the community and local public health officials as well as academicians who have developed and lead innovative programs to deliver substance use treatments. The SU-SWG leadership, in collaboration with the D-CFAR leadership, has identified a comprehensive 5-year action plan, set of activities, policies and procedures and evaluation metrics...