# Training Program in Substance Use, HIV and Related Infections

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $472,338

## Abstract

Renewed funding is requested to continue a T32 training program to train the next generation of prevention
scientists with expertise in HIV and related co-morbidities among substance users. Our program builds upon
three joint doctoral programs in public health, clinical psychology and a new PhD in Interdisciplinary Research
on Substance Use offered in partnership between the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of
Medicine and the San Diego State University (SDSU) Graduate Schools of Public Health and Social Work. Our
objectives are: 1) To provide opportunities for interdisciplinary research training experiences for pre-doctoral
students and postdoctoral fellows in epidemiology, health behavior and psychology who wish to focus on
prevention research at the intersection of substance use and HIV or other infectious diseases (e.g. viral
hepatitis, TB, STIs) or comorbidities; 2) To offer students hands-on experience in the study of HIV and related
comorbidities in international settings which bear the greatest burden of injection drug use, HIV and related
infections; 3) To recruit and train researchers from diverse academic backgrounds and under-represented
minority populations (URM) with the tools needed to become independent researchers with state-of-the-art
skills to address high priority challenges in HIV prevention research among substance users; and 4) To train
individuals in the responsible conduct of research with human subjects, especially in international and cross-
cultural settings. During the past 4 years, our program supported 31 trainees (12 predoctoral and 19
postdoctoral fellows; 12 (39%) were URM). Of completed trainees (8 predocs and 16 postdocs), all but 1
predoc and 1 postdoc are still active in the field. Time to matriculation for predocs averaged 4.1 years. Three
completed predocs are Assistant Professors, 2 are postdocs funded by other NIDA T32s, and two are in
applied positions that include research. Seven K01s were newly awarded to postdocs with 3 more pending
NGAs; half of these were URM. Our 31 predocs and postdocs published 82 and 141 manuscripts, respectively,
almost half of which were first authored. We request support for 4 predoctoral and 4 postdoctoral trainees,
who will be mentored from a pool of 25 Preceptors. Depending on their level of training, mentees complete
courses in substance use and infectious diseases, instruction in responsible conduct of research, quarterly
cultural sensitivity training workshops, seminars on scientific rigor, presentations on 'Work In Progress', and
new seminars (e.g., Writing Circle). Our active research projects in nearby Mexico (6 R01s) and several other
international settings offer the opportunity for unique, hands-on international training experiences and a robust
infrastructure for trainees to develop into independent investigators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9923606
- **Project number:** 5T32DA023356-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas L. Patterson
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $472,338
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-07-05 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9923606

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9923606, Training Program in Substance Use, HIV and Related Infections (5T32DA023356-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9923606. Licensed CC0.

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