# Training in Drug Abuse and Brain Imaging

> **NIH NIH T32** · MCLEAN HOSPITAL · 2020 · $292,013

## Abstract

LUKAS, SE Training in Drug Abuse and Imaging T32 DA015036-15
This is a proposal to continue with years 16-20 of a postdoctoral training program in
brain imaging and drug and alcohol abuse. We have at our disposal a variety of brain
imaging tools that have yielded valuable insights into reward systems and addiction. The
need for such a dedicated program is driven by the emergence of new and innovative
techniques to view both the anatomical and functional aspects of the brain under a
variety of conditions related to drug and alcohol abuse such as: acute intoxicating
effects, tracking cue-induced craving, measuring cognitive effects, detecting persistent
neurological and cognitive defects, monitoring withdrawal, sleep disturbances,
medication compliance, tracking treatment progress and medication development.
Because the nature and spectrum of the disciplines involved in imaging are complex, a
new breed of scientists with backgrounds in imaging technology, multimodal analyses,
neuroscience, pharmacology, addiction medicine and treatment are needed to more fully
explore the neurobiological bases of drug abuse and fill the anticipated needs in the
United States—our Training Program has been filling this void. Over the past 14 years
we have successfully directed an integrated, multidisciplinary Drug Abuse and Brain
Imaging Training Program that is supported by the McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical
School and the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at the MGH. Our program
emphasizes both clinical and translational research directives that have solid
foundations in magnetic resonance [imaging, functional and spectroscopy], EEG, PET
and most recently Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). The infrastructure of the training
program is built around two Siemens 3T clinical scanners (a TIM Trio and a Prisma), a
Varian 4T clinical scanner, a 9.4T small bore animal magnet, both low and high density
EEG/ERP and an Imagent NIRS system. Both animal and clinical PET is available at our
MGH site. Our mentors are well funded by NIDA, NIAAA and NIMH and as such offer a
unique breadth of research opportunities for our trainees. Our postdoctoral training
program is structured to provide the trainees, over the course of 2 or 3 years, with the
basics of imaging techniques, followed by placement in one of four distinct research
tracks supporting each trainee's specific career goals: 1) Technology and
Instrumentation; 2) Basic-Clinical; 3) Clinical-Treatment; and 4) Translational. In
collaboration with the Martinos Center, we offer training in concurrent PET/MRI. The
combination of didactic training in brain imaging and psychopharmacology with practical
applications in a variety of highly successful research laboratories provides our trainees
with the skills to utilize a broad range of brain imaging techniques as they embark on the
next decade of research on how drugs and alcohol affect the brain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9923600
- **Project number:** 5T32DA015036-19
- **Recipient organization:** MCLEAN HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** SCOTT E LUKAS
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $292,013
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-07-10 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9923600

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9923600, Training in Drug Abuse and Brain Imaging (5T32DA015036-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9923600. Licensed CC0.

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