# Training in Addiction Neuroscience

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $669,901

## Abstract

Project Summary
The University of Washington training program in Addiction Neuroscience is designed to provide a cohesive training
environment for six predoctoral and four postdoctoral fellows per year, interested in the molecular, cellular and
behavioral aspects of opioid, cannabinoid, and psychostimulant drug actions and their associated behaviors. 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; regular research progress meetings featuring local experts in addictive 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',
'Neural Circuits Underlying Motivated Behavior and 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 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, including a
NIDA-funded R25 postbaccalaureate program. We actively train our students and fellows in responsible conduct of
research and ethical treatment of animal subjects. The program is proud of its 30-year history of success in training
fellows who have gone on to very successful scientific careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10847002
- **Project number:** 2T32DA007278-31
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan Marie Ferguson
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $669,901
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1993-08-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10847002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10847002, Training in Addiction Neuroscience (2T32DA007278-31). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10847002. Licensed CC0.

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