Building capacity for collaborative research on opioid and other substance use disorders through the Clinical and Translational Science Award Program

Authors

Linda B. Cottler, Department of Epidemiology, Colleges of Public Health and Health Professions, and Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Alan I. Green, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
Harold Alan Pincus, Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
Scott McIntosh, Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
Jennifer L. Humensky, Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
Kathleen Brady, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-25-2019

Abstract

The opioid crisis in the USA requires immediate action through clinical and translational research. Already built network infrastructure through funding by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) provides a major advantage to implement opioid-focused research which together could address this crisis. NIDA supports training grants and clinical trial networks; NCATS funds the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program with over 50 NCATS academic research hubs for regional clinical and translational research. Together, there is unique capacity for clinical research, bioinformatics, data science, community engagement, regulatory science, institutional partnerships, training and career development, and other key translational elements. The CTSA hubs provide unprecedented and timely response to local, regional, and national health crises to address research gaps [Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, Center for Leading Innovation and Collaboration, Synergy paper request for applications]. This paper describes opportunities for collaborative opioid research at CTSA hubs and NIDA–NCATS opportunities that build capacity for best practices as this crisis evolves. Results of a Landscape Survey (among 63 hubs) are provided with descriptions of best practices and ideas for collaborations, with research conducted by hubs also involved in premier NIDA initiatives. Such collaborations could provide a rapid response to the opioid epidemic while advancing science in multiple disciplinary areas.

Recommended Citation

Cottler, L., Green, A., Pincus, H., McIntosh, S., Humensky, J., & Brady, K. (2020). Building capacity for collaborative research on opioid and other substance use disorders through the Clinical and Translational Science Award Program. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 4(2), 81-89. doi:10.1017/cts.2019.441