# Translational Research Training on Addictions for Racial/Ethnic Minorities

> **NIH NIH R25** · CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK · 2020 · $351,233

## Abstract

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): Ruglass, Lesia, M.
 PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This renewal proposal responds to PAR 19-258 and describes an addiction research training program
designed to increase the number of interdisciplinary scientists interested in and capable of serving as
Principal Investigators (PIs) on extramurally funded research from underrepresented racial/ethnic minority
(URM) groups. Significant disparities in the number of URM scientists successfully receiving awards for
independent funding (i.e., NIH, NSF, etc.) continue to plague scientific research despite many years of efforts
to improve such disparities. Moreover, the expansion of the field of translational neuroscience further highlights
disparities in the numbers of qualified URM scientists trained with knowledge of basic science as it relates to
“real world” addiction treatment needs in the community.
This renewal proposal focuses on addressing these gaps through the continuation of an innovative research
training and mentoring program – Translational Research Training in Addictions for Racial/Ethnic
minorities at CCNY and Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), or TRACC Program – that reaches
earlier into the career development pipeline to identify talented undergraduate medical school (BS/MD), MA-
and PhD- level URM students from diverse disciplines at urban, public minority serving institutions: City
College of New York (CCNY) and, an expansion site for this proposal, Rutgers, the State University of New
Jersey (RU). These young scholars will be provided intensive training and support that will facilitate their
developmental trajectory as translational substance use disorder (SUD) researchers. RU not only expands the
reach of this successful program, but broadens access to scientific and methodological expertise of mentors.
The TRACC-RU Program is supported by the mentorship of committed leaders in the addiction research field
at CCNY and RU in partnership with faculty from the Division on Substance Use Disorders at CUMC to
promote applied research training in two critically related ways. Our trainees are exposed to: (1) cutting edge
science and methodologies in animal and human models of addiction through our psychiatry, psychology, and
cognitive neuroscience research programs and related lab experiences and; (2) critical issues in conducting
community-based clinical treatment trials, grounded in our expertise of effectiveness and implementation trials
of evidence-based addiction treatments in the community. Overarching outcomes for TRACC trainees include:
1) obtaining knowledge about key neuroscience research (questions and approaches) in the context of
community treatment in drug abuse; 2) conducting a substance abuse-related research project; 3) presenting a
paper or poster at a local or national conference; 4) authoring or co-authoring a scientific journal article; 5)
preparing an application for a training grant award to an APA or N...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9981966
- **Project number:** 2R25DA035161-06
- **Recipient organization:** CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK
- **Principal Investigator:** DENISE AIMEE HIEN
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $351,233
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2013-06-15 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9981966

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9981966, Translational Research Training on Addictions for Racial/Ethnic Minorities (2R25DA035161-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9981966. Licensed CC0.

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