Medical University Of South Carolina

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 1997-07

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Not Applicable

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 1996-12

PROJECT SUMMARY The Charleston Alcohol Research Center (ARC) continues to focus on treatment and treatment implications as an overarching theme. The ARC maintains its long-standing tradition of embracing multidisciplinary and translational research approaches, integrating both basic research and clinical investigations all centered on this common theme. The ARC also continues its tradition of teaming junior faculty with more experienced investigators, capitalizing on new talent and bringing sophisticated cutting-edge technologies and research approaches that enhance research efforts in addressing the Center’s overall scientific goals. The ARC is comprised of five research projects and three cores. The Administrative Core provides the leadership and infrastructure to facilitate the overall scientific and educational mission of the Center as a whole. The Shared Resource Core provides vital scientific services needed by Center researchers to facilitate integration, maximize resources, and increase productivity. The Pilot Core attracts new investigators and new ideas to the Center, thereby broadening and augmenting its research and training activities. In this renewal application, proposed preclinical and clinical research projects all center on a common research focus – neuroadaptations in cortical processes that underlie transition to excessive drinking. Three basic research projects will use sophisticated circuitry mapping, cellular/molecular biology techniques, and behavioral procedures to examine how chronic alcohol exposure alters functional activity of cortical sub-regions and their projections, and how such adaptations in cortical-subcortical neurocircuitry mediate excessive drinking, which may be characterized as inflexible, compulsive/habit-like drinking. Two clinical research projects will employ sophisticated neuroimaging techniques to focus on similar cortical areas and projections in evaluating the ability of different treatment modalities (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) to alter the circuitry and reduce alcohol cue-induced brain activation, craving, and drinking. The Charleston ARC is poised to continue its national leadership role and demonstrated success in: (a) fostering multidisciplinary and translational state-of-the-art research efforts that are thematically-focused on the topic of treatment and treatment implications; (b) attracting new (especially early-stage) investigators into the Center, thereby invigorating its research efforts; and (c) providing a stimulating environment that enriches training opportunities and professional development for the next generation of researchers in the alcohol field.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 1991-09

The long term goal of the training program is to equip our predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows with the knowledge base and the research skills to compete successfully in the world of substance use disorder (SUD) research. For the past 29 years, the Drug Abuse Training Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has trained predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars to be cognizant of multiple preclinical and clinical dimensions of the SUD problem. The objectives of the training program are (1) to integrate a group of trainees into various funded addiction-related research programs with appropriate mentors, (2) to provide a strong foundation in research design, analytic techniques, and data presentation appropriate for SUD research, (3) to expose trainees to appropriate role models, (4) to expose students to issues related to scientific ethics, rigor, and reproducibility, (5) to teach trainees communication skills, (6) to teach trainees how to prepare a research grant application and transition to individual fellowships, (7) to help each fellow gain an appreciation of both clinical and basic science research, and (8) to 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 a substantial increase in training program applicants who are eager to learn from this highly collaborative faculty. Thus, support to continue this training program at the level of 8 postdoctoral and 4 predoctoral trainees per year for 5 years is requested. There are now 5 major preclinical and clinical research opportunities: (1) neurobiology and treatment of drug relapse; (2) research in SUDs; (3) interaction of stress and SUDs; (4) neurobiology and treatment of tobacco and cannabis use disorders; and (5) neuroimaging functional networks in SUDs. 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 and activities. Coupled to the environment is a comprehensive training package incorporating didactic material, clinical experiences, and research experiences 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 are accomplished in partnership with the College of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs Office at MUSC. Eligible preceptors (mentors) are those with actively funded substance abuse-related research projects and matching of trainees with mentors is by mutual consent. An External Advisory Committee is consulted annually for evaluation and recommendations. The NIDA training program at MUSC has been very successful in placing our trainees in highly-productive postdoctoral and faculty-level positions through which they continue to contribute to SUD research.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 1988-01

The NIMH T32 Traumatic Stress Research Program’s primary goal is to equip postdoctoral fellows with the research skills, resources, and opportunities necessary for their development into independent translational and clinical scientists producing mental health research that will have a transformative influence on the traumatic stress field and public health. Housed in the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) at MUSC, the program has trained postdoctoral fellows in state-of-the-art scientific methods in traumatic stress research—in both child and adult populations—for the past 34 years. This application proposes 5 years program continuation (Years 36-40) and seeks support for six postdoctoral positions of two- year duration. Through mentorship and training with a large number of talented and prolific faculty who have made a career commitment to traumatic stress-related mental health research and its associated sequelae, the program’s objectives are to develop competence in several areas: a) sampling methods and data collection modes; b) familiarity in the measurement and integration of neural, psychophysiological, and behavioral units of analysis; c) foundational skills in working with ‘big data’; d) ethical issues in trauma research; e) development, evaluation, and implementation of effective interventions; and f) translating findings for public policy. Fellows select specialized training in one of two research tracks—Epidemiology Risk and Resiliency or Treatment Development, Evaluation, and Dissemination/Implementation. Training is outlined in each fellow’s Individual Development Plan and guided by the fellow’s selection of a Primary Mentor among our Program Faculty at MUSC leading timely studies in the area of traumatic stress, as well as a Secondary Mentor from among other MUSC faculty and additional academic institutions. Secondary Mentors add great breadth to training opportunities through their complementary expertise in areas of science spanning: addiction, brain stimulation, neuroimaging, genetics, dissemination and implementation science, psychopharmacology, and HIV. Fellows also benefit from a full array of core, selective, and elective training options that include course work, workshops, training in the responsible conduct of research, and retreats. The caliber of the program is clearly reflected in the record of notable accomplishments and scientific contributions made by its previous fellows, both within the most recent 5-year funding period and over its 34-year duration: 100% of fellows who have completed training over the most recent renewal funding period and 95% of trainees who have completed the program in the past 15 years are employed in research positions. A primary strength of the program is the innovative body of research among the MUSC NIMH T32 faculty, including a large number of federally-funded projects that address some of the most significant questions facing the traumatic stress field and that closely align with NIMH Research Strategic Priorities.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 1987-09

The goal of this training program is to prepare predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows with knowledge and skills to carry out cutting-edge alcohol research. For the past 35 years, the Alcohol Research Training Program at MUSC has created an environment where basic scientists and clinicians work together to train the next generation of alcohol researchers. The objectives of this training program are to: 1) integrate trainees into funded alcohol research programs with appropriate mentors, 2) provide a strong foundation in research design, analytical techniques and data presentation relevant for AUD research, 3) provide trainees with exposure to appropriate role models and opportunities for mentoring, 4) provide instruction in issues related to scientific ethics, and methods for enhancing rigor and reproducibility of scientific results, 5) enhance communication skills, 6) teach trainees how to prepare a research focused grant application needed to transition to an individual training award, 7) help each fellow gain an appreciation of both clinical and basic science research to enhance their understanding of how their training relates to health and disease, and 8) assist trainees in professional development and career advancement. Over the past decade, there has been outstanding growth and success of faculty devoted to alcohol research that has contributed to MUSC’s stature as a center for alcohol and substance-use research. This has generated a high demand for predoctoral and postdoctoral training in alcohol research. Seven major research areas are available for training: 1) elucidating brain targets of alcohol action, 2) uncovering the neurobiological basis of excessive drinking, 3) advanced brain imaging and stimulation techniques in human AUD subjects, 4) determining the cognitive aspects of alcohol use and dependence, 5) evaluating novel pharmacotherapies for treating AUD, 6) analyzing how genetic polymorphisms contribute to alcohol use and treatment efficacy, and 7) studying how stress and trauma contribute to alcohol use and dependence. Training takes place within a tightly integrated and physically connected environment where educational and research opportunities are closely coordinated. The comprehensive training program incorporates didactic material, clinical experiences and research opportunities. Recruitment and selection of trainees is accomplished by the Program Directors and Executive Committee members. Mentors are faculty with actively funded alcohol research projects and matching of trainees with mentors is by mutual consent. The NIAAA training program has been successful in placing trainees in highly-productive postdoctoral and faculty- level positions through which they continue to contribute to alcohol research.