# Rising STARS (Scientific Training in Alcohol Research and other Substances) Program

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2022 · $211,743

## Abstract

The University of Southern California (USC) “Rising STARS” (Scientific Training in Alcohol Research and other
Substances) Program, a proposed partnership in Los Angeles, CA, with neighboring California State
University, Los Angeles (CSULA) and Charles R. Drew Medical University (CDU), proposes to advance
undergraduate training of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in the fields of alcohol and substance use
disorders (ASUD). This unique and innovative educational and research experience program brings together
three universities that are within proximity of each other in Los Angeles that together represent one of the
largest pools of talented URM students in the U.S. The mission of the Rising STARS program is to develop the
creativity and intellectual talents of our most motivated, undergraduate URM students with the focused goal of
making their talents available to strong Ph.D. programs to enrich future addiction science research through
their participation. Faculty members of the USC Institute for Addiction Science (IAS)—a transdisciplinary
research and education unit with 77 faculty involved in ASUD research with substantial community
engagements—in collaboration with CSULA and CDU will provide Rising STARS scholars well-designed,
unique, customized, educational and research opportunities. Given the breadth and integration of the USC
IAS, Rising STARS scholars will have the opportunity to train in preclinical, human laboratory, clinical, public
health, and/or policy approaches that focus on ASUD research. We will provide the next generation of
scientists’ real-world experiences and enrichment to propel them forward into graduate-level training and
careers in ASUD and addiction sciences. Importantly, by increasing the diversity of scientists in these fields,
we will provide a platform for developing distinct questions and approaches. Our program has many unique
and innovative aspects: (1) we will expose students to transdisciplinary perspectives in addiction sciences
early in their career, thus promoting substantial interactions with faculty and other trainees from various
disciplines; (2) understanding that the clinical reality of substance abuse often involves co-use and addiction to
multiple substances, many of the mentors in our program will bring experience in poly-substance use; and (3)
we will address structural barriers that will allow greater flexibility for URM students resulting in greater
admission opportunities at USC and nearby universities. In support of this program's diversity-enhancing goals,
the Deans of the School of Pharmacy and Keck School of Medicine will provide application waivers,
guaranteed interviews, and select slots of Ph.D. entry for Rising STARS graduates. This support will advance
USC and Rising STARS goal of enhancing diversity within USC laboratories and Ph.D. programs. Overall, we
are confident that this unique, collaborative program will expand student interest and involvement, enhance
student success, and pr...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10454625
- **Project number:** 1R25DA056016-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Daryl L Davies
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $211,743
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10454625

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10454625, Rising STARS (Scientific Training in Alcohol Research and other Substances) Program (1R25DA056016-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10454625. Licensed CC0.

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