
Substance use and associated HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and mental health comorbidities continue to drive morbidity and mortality. Interdisciplinary, interinstitutional collaborations can challenge paradigms to achieve advances in substance use treatment that limit the spread of HIV/HCV and decrease morbidity and death. Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) are national leaders in substance use research and are located in states with high rates of substance use and new HIV infections.
The Vanderbilt Oregon COllaborative Scholar Training in Addiction Research (COSTAR) K12 program was established to train and mentor the next generation of substance use researchers.
We are seeking a minimum of three faculty Scholars who have completed an MD or PhD in the health sciences at a level of 75% effort for up to five years.
Why Vanderbilt and Oregon?
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Oregon Health and Science University have rich research environments and highly successful history of developing the careers of research scientists. Additional strengths of VUMC/OHSU include four addiction fellowship programs, the Tennessee Center for AIDS Research, the Vanderbilt Center for Tobacco Addiction and Lifestyle at VUMC and the Western States Node of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, the Portland Alcohol Research Center, and the Rural Opioids Initiative at OHSU.
COSTAR Curriculum
This program is led by Dr. Hilary Tindle and Dr. Matt Freiberg at VUMC and Dr. Todd Korthuis at OHSU. Drs. Tindle (nicotine dependence), Freiberg (unhealthy alcohol use), and Korthuis (drug use) will partner with interdisciplinary faculty mentors from both VUMC and OHSU. The COSTAR training curriculum includes (1) mentored research projects, (2) didactic education, (3) completion of a structured institutional career development program, and (4) optional multisite research training.
COSTAR objectives and Specific Aims:
- To create a sustainable K12 program that fosters interdisciplinary, intensive mentored research training and career development for early career MD, PhD, MD/PhD investigators that focuses on substance use/disorders with an emphasis on vulnerable populations (e.g., people with HIV)
- To produce a group of well-trained Scholars with the expertise to study: the risk factors for, and mechanisms underlying, substance use/disorders, and the behavioral and health aspects of substance use/disorders and its associated morbidity
- To provide Scholars with a research environment that offers mentors and topic experts with expertise in key research domains and protected time to innovate and build an individualized research program
- To leverage VUMC and OHSU existing infrastructure and location to provide Scholars with hands-on instruction in a mentor’s laboratory, didactic education, access to existing cohort/trial data and statistical support and facilitate participation in a mentored research project that leads to an R01 or external career development award submission
- To build the administrative structure that creates program cohesion, guides selection of mentors, oversees steady progress in career development, and continuously improves program components.
Please contact our program manager, Emily Wells, to learn more about our program and apply to be one of our scholars.
Visit Collaborator Websites
The Vanderbilt Center for Tobacco, Addiction and Lifestyle
Oregon Health & Science University Addiction Medicine