# Summer Undergraduate Addiction Research Training Program in Central Appalachia

> **NIH DA R25** · EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY · 2026 · $129,640

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Central Appalachian region is a rural area that has some of the highest rates of opioid related mortality in
the U.S. It is essential to fully understand factors contributing to these challenges and identify solutions as the
region is heavily burdened with this major public health crisis. The East Tennessee State University (ETSU)
Mentored Substance Use Research (EMSUR) program is a collaborative, transdisciplinary program that aims to
mentor and train the next generation of researchers and practitioners focused on substance use in Central
Appalachia. The EMSUR summer program will train 10 undergraduate students each year over five years
through experiential faculty-mentored substance use research, engagement with the proven digital Substance
Use Research Education and Training (SARET) curriculum that will include regionally-focused ETSU-developed
modules, and participation in dynamic real-world presentations from guests speakers and experts in rural health,
treatment and recovery research, and those with lived experience of substance use disorder (SUD). Every
attempt will be made to recruit highly qualified students with an interest in living and working in the Central
Appalachia region. The goal of the EMSUR program is to increase undergraduate student interest in SUD-related
research and practice, thereby increasing the number of trained SUD researchers and practitioners living and
working in the Central Appalachian region, that will ultimately be able to find solutions for these SUD related
challenges. The EMSUR summer program will be accomplished through three specific aims: 1) Build a robust
recruitment pipeline for undergraduate students through collaborations across ETSU and partnering institutions,
leveraging faculty, staff, and direct student outreach to promote program awareness and engagement. 2) Train
a cohort of 10 undergraduate students per year in a mentored, transdisciplinary summer research experience,
fostering critica

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11305019
- **Project number:** 1R25DA062478-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Manik  Ahuja
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** DA
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $129,640
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2026-02-15T00:00:00 → 2031-01-31T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11305019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11305019, Summer Undergraduate Addiction Research Training Program in Central Appalachia (1R25DA062478-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11305019. Licensed CC0.

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