# UCLA Training Program in the Translational Neuroscience of Drug Abuse (TNDA)

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2022 · $187,410

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This proposal seeks support for a pre- and postdoctoral training program in the Translational Neuroscience of
Drug Addiction (TNDA) at UCLA (5-year competitive renewal, requesting positions for four predoctoral and
three postdoctoral fellows). Four participating programs/departments host TNDA trainees: Brain Research Inst.
(administering the Neuroscience Interdepartmental PhD program), Dept. Psychology, Dept. Molecular &
Medical Pharmacology, Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior, the first three offering doctoral
training programs. TNDA has five aims: 1) to recruit and enroll highly qualified candidates who are interested in
and committed to translational research in drug addiction (including vigorously recruiting from
underrepresented populations); 2) to provide hands-on experience at all stages of addiction research, including
evidence-based hypothesis formation, experimental design, data acquisition and analyses, and preparing
findings for oral and written presentation; 3) ; to ensure that trainees develop expertise in a specific research
area and supporting technology, while providing opportunities for trainees to acquire the breadth of knowledge
needed to conduct translational research in drug addiction; 4) to provide the resources, opportunities, and
training that will enable trainees to use preliminary data in generating novel hypotheses and specific aims for
NIH grant proposals, laying the groundwork for success in securing funding to pursue independent research;
and 5) to provide career guidance so that trainees can successfully identify and secure professional positions
allowing them to use the skills and knowledge obtained from TNDA. Accordingly, TNDA provides
comprehensive interdisciplinary training through formal education and supervised research. Methodological
issues and techniques are emphasized, and rigorous education in the ethics of conducting scientific research
is provided. The participating mentors have active research programs at all levels of analysis ─ from cell and
molecular biology and integrative study in animal models to brain imaging and cognitive neuroscience in
humans. TNDA trainees have a primary project in a specific mentor's laboratory, but gain exposure to other
areas of research through laboratory rotations, common core training, as well as by formal and informal
interaction among TNDA faculty and leadership, including organized professional and social events for TNDA
trainees. The Program Director and participating faculty have excellent records in research and past
mentorship and strive to provide trainees with the knowledge needed to plan and conduct integrative,
translational studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401430
- **Project number:** 5T32DA024635-15
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** LARA A. RAY
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $187,410
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2008-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401430

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401430, UCLA Training Program in the Translational Neuroscience of Drug Abuse (TNDA) (5T32DA024635-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401430. Licensed CC0.

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