# Summer Mentoring and Research in Transdisciplinary Methodologies in Neuroscience of Drug-Addiction (SMART MIND)

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · 2024 · $128,327

## Abstract

Abstract
This is a renewal application of the SMART MIND (Summer Mentoring and Research in Transdisciplinary
Methodologies in the Neuroscience of Drug-Abuse) Program conducted at the University of Texas at El Paso
(UTEP). Over the past 10 years of funding, we have provided an intensive training experience for 79
undergraduates, 18 high school teachers, and 8 high school students from underrepresented groups in
science. Our overarching goal is to provide quality and effective summer experiences for diverse trainees to
increase knowledge and skills in substance use disorders (SUDs). The program will utilize a transdisciplinary
approach, involving training from a 13-member Interdisciplinary Faculty Team (IFT) on state-of-the-art
behavioral and molecular bench science, community-based and health disparities research to address the
multifaceted impact of SUDs on the brain and behavior. Each research cohort will consist of 12 undergraduate
students, 6 of which will be local from UTEP or community colleges majoring in neuroscience and public
health-related fields. The other 6 students will be recruited from outside El Paso, focusing on minority-serving
institutions. This will increase program reach outside of the El Paso area while continuing to promote the
involvement of underrepresented minorities in biomedical research. The program will also amplify outreach
efforts to El Paso area high schools by including hands-on training for 3 high school teachers to incorporate
low-cost neuroscience methods and SUD research knowledge into their curriculum. The program will also
partner with Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) to invite local high school students to UTEP to network
and learn more about science and SUD research careers. Specifically, this program aims at:
1) Continuing to increase the number of undergraduate students conducting research in neuroscience and
related fields to provide information that will help reduce health disparities produced by SUDs and
2) Further increasing the number of high school teachers and students in the El Paso region with research
skills and knowledge related to neuroscience and SUDs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10830912
- **Project number:** 5R25DA033613-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO
- **Principal Investigator:** Karina C Canaba
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $128,327
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-05-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10830912

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10830912, Summer Mentoring and Research in Transdisciplinary Methodologies in Neuroscience of Drug-Addiction (SMART MIND) (5R25DA033613-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10830912. Licensed CC0.

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