P30DA051355

The Center of Excellence in Addiction Studies (CEAS) is proposing to establish a center that will offer core services to users, allowing them to develop projects that will lead to new research in addiction. Addiction and relapse are characterized by dysregulation of brain circuitry, involving diminished activity of brain reward circuits, increased responsiveness of stress circuits, and impaired functioning of executive cortical circuits. Neural changes are observed in the basal ganglia, extended amygdala, and prefrontal cortical regions, involving a wide range of endogenous neurotransmitters such as dopamine, opioid peptides, endocannabinoids, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), dynorphin, glutamate, and others.

While chronic pain and addiction are different disorders, there is a remarkable overlap between the influence of drugs of abuse and chronic pain on these circuits. The faculty of CEAS has broad expertise in evaluating the mechanisms underlying the maladaptations promoted by pain in these circuits.

The CEAS will be composed of four cores and a pilot research project. The Administrative Core will provide the structural elements necessary for the efficient functioning of the CEAS. The Genetic Targeting of Neural Circuits Core will allow users to employ cutting-edge genetic techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, chemogenetics, and optogenetics, to produce cell and circuit-specific manipulations for evaluating potential mechanisms relevant to addiction. The Neuroanalytical Core will provide users with advanced methods of measuring neurotransmitters with temporal resolution spanning milliseconds to days, as well as spatial specificity through advanced detection methods. The Behavioral Core will allow users to explore addiction-related questions using behavioral assays that evaluate addictive processes, including the influence of addictive drugs on cognitive function.

Investigators in the CEAS have worked together for many years and have shared both individual and research funding. Additionally, the CEAS will offer opportunities for other investigators at the University of Arizona, as well as Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of New Mexico, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Lubbock and El Paso, establishing a southwestern region engaged in addiction sciences. The CEAS aims to promote increased diversity in addiction research by recruiting investigators and students from under-represented populations in neuroscience and addiction.

The impact of the CEAS will be to leverage established funding to develop new research on addiction. Furthermore, the impact of funds from the CEAS will be amplified by commitments of matching funds from the University of Arizona and from a recently established Comprehensive Center of Pain and Addiction. The CEAS will provide key services to its users that align with the goals of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to enhance addiction research, with a goal of developing therapies that can stem the opioid epidemic and impact other substance abuse disorders. The close collaboration between the cores ensures high expertise in all areas of addiction research and will permit outcome measures emphasizing scientific rigor and reproducibility.

University Of Arizona

TO SUPPORT BASIC AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE, BIOMEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, EPIDEMIOLOGIC, HEALTH SERVICES AND HEALTH DISPARITY RESEARCH. TO DEVELOP NEW KNOWLEDGE AND APPROACHES RELATED TO THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, ETIOLOGY, AND CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION, INCLUDING HIV/AIDS. TO SUPPORT RESEARCH TRAINING AND RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT. TO SUPPORT DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) LEGISLATION IS INTENDED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAMS TO EMPHASIZE AND INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED THROUGH FEDERAL SBIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN THE SBIR PROGRAM. THE LEGISLATION INTENDS THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.279 - Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) [HHS - NIH]

Tucson, Arizona 85721 United States

Single Zip Code

NIDA Core "Center of Excellence" Grant Program (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-20-267)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 418% from $1,288,998 to $6,676,282.