# Drug Abuse Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2020 · $766,040

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY /ABSTRACT
The long term goal of the training program is to equip our predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows with
the knowledge base and research skills to compete successfully in the world of substance use disorder (SUD)
research. For the past 24 years, the Drug Abuse Training Program at the Medical University of South Carolina
(MUSC) has trained predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars who are cognizant of multiple preclinical and clinical
dimensions of the SUD problem. The objectives of the training program are to (1) integrate a diverse group of
trainees into various funded addiction-related research programs with appropriate mentors, (2) provide general
knowledge about SUDs and related treatment research, (3) expose trainees to appropriate role models, (4)
expose students to issues related to scientific ethics; rigor, transparency and reproducibility; and diversity
issues, (5) teach trainees communication skills, (6) teach trainees how to prepare a research grant application
and transition to individual fellowships, (7) help each fellow gain an appreciation of both clinical and basic
science research, and (8) assist trainees in their professional development. There has been tremendous
growth and development of neuroscience faculty who conduct preclinical and clinical SUD research in NIH-
funded centers at MUSC within the past decade. Concomitant with this growth has been an explosion in
training program applicants who are eager to learn from this highly interactive faculty. Thus, support to
continue this training program at the level of 8 postdoctoral (2 in level 0, 3 each in levels 1 and 2) and 4
predoctoral trainees per year for 5 years is requested. There are four major areas of preclinical and clinical
research opportunities: neurobiology of drug relapse; sex and gender differences in vulnerability to SUDs;
stress and substance use disorders; and neurobiology and treatment of nicotine dependence. Since the main
sites of research training are in very close proximity to one another, there is coordination of educational
(courses, seminars, journal clubs) and research (preclinical and clinical) opportunities. Coupled to the
environment is a comprehensive training package incorporating didactic material, clinical experiences, and
research experience that provides an ideal training opportunity that is evaluated on an annual basis.
Recruitment and selection of trainees is accomplished by the Program Directors and internal Steering
Committee members. Augmented recruitment and retention of underrepresented individuals is accomplished in
partnership with the College of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Office at MUSC. Eligible mentors
are those with actively funded substance abuse-related research projects; matching of trainees with mentors is
by mutual consent. An External Advisory Board is consulted annually for evaluation and recommendations for
program improvement. The NIDA training program at MUSC has been very succ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9916745
- **Project number:** 5T32DA007288-29
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacqueline F. McGinty
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $766,040
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-09-30 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9916745

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9916745, Drug Abuse Training Program (5T32DA007288-29). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9916745. Licensed CC0.

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