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Institute for Addiction Science

Issue 33

IAS UPDATES
Welcome to the September Issue of the IAS Newsletter!

It is hard to fathom fall is just around the corner with this summer heat wave hitting us here in Southern California!  The Institute, however, is in full fall swing this semester.  We are definitely buzzing with energy as we continue to progress IAS programs and initiatives forward.

Last month, we welcomed Dr. Morgan Philbin from Columbia University who was our special invited guest for our August Distinguished Speaker Series event.  In case you missed her excellent talk on "Cannabis policy implementation and outcomes among minoritized youth and young adults in the United States", her presentation can be viewed here.

This month, on September 28th, we are excited to welcome Frederick Barrett, Ph.D.from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.  Dr. Barrett will be talking about "The Neuropsychopharmacology of Psychedelic Drugs".  Please see below for more information or click here to register for the talk!  Lunch and parking will be provided for in-person attendees.  We hope to see you there!

Excitedly, IAS is working closely with our recently convened Community Advisory Board (CAB) which consists of key stakeholders who work directly with Los Angeles County residents.  As the largest county in the nation, IAS has the opportunity to expand the reach of our work and our mission to better the lives of people touched by addiction.  A recent example is the veto of SB57 by the Governor.  While the passing of this bill would have made efforts in providing safe consumption resources more feasible with legislative level support, the veto of this bill does not entirely halt efforts in Los Angeles County and IAS is still committed to helping with community strategies in reducing harm, preventing overdoses, and providing resources.  The CAB will be integral in providing insight into the needs of the community by providing ongoing feedback on IAS activities and offer guidance through their lenses of experience and expertise.  

In our last issue, we announced the awarding of a $1.3 Million NIH training grant that was awarded to Dr. Daryl Davies from the School of Pharmacy.  The USC Rising STARS (Scientific Training in Alcohol Research and other Substances) Program is a novel and innovative approach to strengthen diversity in researchers in Addiction Science.  This training program will match world class researchers from USC, Cal State University, Los Angeles, and Charles R. Drew Medical University with underrepresented minority undergraduate trainees.  If you have any training opportunities or are interested in mentoring an undergraduate student, please click here to fill out an interest form.  It is our hope that this type of training opportunity will propel this future generation of addiction scientists into graduate-level training and careers in the field of addiction science.  

Speaking of graduate-level training, later this month, our Masters in Addiction Science program will be open to start accepting applications for the Fall 2023!  Bridging the gap between science, practice, and policy, this new transdisciplinary program will offer courses  within USC Keck School of Medicine, USC School of Pharmacy, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, and other departments across the university, truly offering an integrated degree that gives a multi-perspective approach to understanding addiction.

Lastly, please Save the Date for our Annual IAS Retreat to be held on Thursday, December 15th.  Location and details will be announced soon, but please mark your calendars to join us for this wonderful year-end gathering of IAS members that will feature awards, science, collaboration, food, prizes, and more!  This year's theme will be "Accelerating the Impact of Addiction Science".  We look forward to this event and having you all there!

As always, we are very appreciative of your continued support of the Institute for Addiction Science and look forward to continuing to share our ongoing and upcoming projects and activities with you.

Warmest Regards,
Adam Leventhal, John Clapp, Daryl Davies, Ricky Bluthenthal, Terry Church, Vickie Williams and Loba Ojo
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS


This talk will be in-person at the Soto Street Building, Room 116
1845 N. Soto Street
Los Angeles, CA 90032

Upon arrival, please see the receptionist and obtain a parking permit to place on your dashboard. Lunch will be served outside in the courtyard immediately following the talk.

Virtual option also available.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
As a reminder, IAS is requesting project ideas from any IAS participating faculty members to award seed funding that will lead to high impact transdisciplinary projects.  Projects that will advance any of IAS’s three missions—research, education, and community engagement and service—are encouraged.  These project pitches will require a brief one-page description and budget and should propose work that can be completed within 1-year, but serve as the basis for a longer-term initiative, as described here.      
 
IAS MEMBER RESEARCH CORNER
Below are selected publications from the previous month (August 2022) from faculty members and scholars of the Institute for Addiction Science. 

Benowitz, N. L., Goniewicz, M. L., Halpern-Felsher, B., Krishnan-Sarin, S., Ling, P. M., O'Connor, R. J., Pentz, M. A., Robertson, R. M., & Bhatnagar, A. (2022). Tobacco product use and the risks of SARS-COV-2 infection and COVID-19: Current understanding and recommendations for future research. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine10(9), 900–915. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-2600(22)00182-5 

 

Blanchette, J. G., Pacula, R. L., Smart, R., Lira, M. C., Pessar, S. C., & Naimi, T. S. (2022). The Cannabis Policy Scale: A new research and surveillance tool for U.S. states. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.21-00462 

 

Cohrs, A. C., Husnul Khotimah, D. E., Dick, A. W., Stein, B. D., Pacula, R. L., Druss, B. G., Kim, K., & Leslie, D. L. (2022). Spatial and temporal trends in the diagnosis of opioid-related problems in commercially-insured adolescents and young adults. Preventive Medicine163, 107194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107194 

 

Dai, H. D., Ratnapradipa, K., Michaud, T. L., King, K. M., Guenzel, N., Tamrakar, N., Puga, T., & Sussman, S. (2022). Vaping Media Literacy, harm perception, and susceptibility of e-cigarette use among youth. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.05.012 

 

DiGuiseppi, G. T., Fedorova, E. V., Lankenau, S. E., Davis, J. P., & Wong, C. F. (2022). Egocentric network characteristics and cannabis use in a sample of young adult medical cannabis patients and non-patient users. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.21-00286 

 

Doran, N., Myers, M., Luczak, S., Trim, R., Strong, D., & Tully, L. (2022). Non-daily Cigarette Smoking: Stability and transition to abstinence in young adults. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac189 

 

Harlow, A. F., Stokes, A. C., Brooks, D. R., Benjamin, E. J., Leventhal, A. M., McConnell, R. S., Barrington‐Trimis, J. L., & Ross, C. S. (2022). Prospective association between e‐cigarette use frequency patterns and cigarette smoking abstinence among adult cigarette smokers in the United States. Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16009 

 

Harlow, A. F., Vogel, E. A., Tackett, A. P., Cho, J., Han, D.-H., Wong, M., Cockburn, M. G., Sussman, S. Y., Unger, J. B., Leventhal, A. M., & Barrington-Trimis, J. L. (2022). Adolescent use of flavored non-tobacco oral nicotine products. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-056586 

 

Ihenacho, U., Hamilton, A. S., Mack, W. J., Wu, A. H., Unger, J. B., Pathak, D. R., Hirko, K. A., Houang, R. T., Press, M. F., Schwartz, K. L., Marcus, L. R., & Velie, E. M. (2022). Lifetime personal cigarette smoking and risk of young-onset breast cancer by subtype among non-Hispanic black and white women in the Young Women's Health History Study. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-022-06675-4 

 

Kelley, M. A., Lev, R., Lucas, J., Knight, T., Stewart, E., Menchine, M., & Doctor, J. N. (2022). Association of Fatal Overdose Notification Letters with prescription of benzodiazepines. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.3372 

 

Kennedy, A. J., George, J. S., Rossetti, G., Brown, C. O., Ragins, K., Dadiomov, D., Trotzky-Sirr, R., Sanchez, G., Llamas, H., & Hurley, B. (2022). Providing low-barrier addiction treatment via a telemedicine consultation service during the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles, county: An assessment 1 year later. Journal of Addiction MedicinePublish Ahead of Print. https://doi.org/10.1097/adm.0000000000001034 

 

Lee, B. P., Dodge, J. L., & Terrault, N. A. (2022). Geographic density of gastroenterologists is associated with decreased mortality from alcohol-associated liver disease. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2022.07.020 

 

Riehm, K. E., Cho, J., Smail, E. J., Pedersen, E., Lee, J. O., Davis, J. P., & Leventhal, A. M. (2022). Drug use trajectories among U.S. adults during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Psychiatric Research154, 145–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.07.055 

 

Roberts, M. E., Tackett, A. P., Singer, J. M., Wagner, D. D., Lu, B., Wagener, T. L., Brinkman, M., Klein, E. G., Vickerman, K. A., Wold, L. E., Gumina, R. J., & Mohler, P. J. (2022). Dual use of e-cigarettes and cannabis among young people in America: A new public health hurdle? Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.22-00027 

 

Strayer, T. E., Spalluto, L. B., Burns, A., Lindsell, C. J., Henschke, C. I., Yankelevitz, D. F., Moghanaki, D., Dittus, R. S., Vogus, T. J., Audet, C., Kripalani, S., Roumie, C. L., & Lewis, J. A. (2022). Using the framework for reporting adaptations and modifications-expanded (frame) to study lung cancer screening adaptations in the Veterans Health Administration. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1862731/v1 

 

Tran, D. D., Davis, J. P., Ring, C., Wang, J., Fitzke, R. E., Leventhal, A. M., & Pedersen, E. R. (2022). Associations between depression, stress, and e-cigarette use among OEF/OIF veterans. Military Psychology, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2022.2114278 

 

Yao, M., Luczak, S. E., Saldich, E. B., & Rosen, I. G. (2022). A population model‐based linear‐quadratic gaussian compensator for the control of intravenously infused alcohol studies and withdrawal symptom prophylaxis using transdermal sensing. Optimal Control Applications and Methods. https://doi.org/10.1002/oca.2934

ADDICTION SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
This section highlights a few news articles from the month highlighting research or programming from an IAS member or IAS research program, as well as articles related to addiction science. 

Fentanyl From the Government? A Vancouver Experiment Aims to Stop Overdoses
The New York Times, August 3rd, 2022

Safe Injection Sites For Drug Use Could Soon Be Legal In California
LAist, August 4th, 2022

FDA Warns Manufacturer for Marketing Illegal Flavored Nicotine Gummies
FDA, August 18th, 2022

USC Receives $1.3 Million NIH Training Grant to Enhance Diversity in Addiction Science
USC News, August 22nd, 2022

ASHES, Vol. 18(9) - Sweet tooth or sweet lung: Young adults' relationship with vaping and diet
BASIS, August 23rd, 2022
JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Research Team - Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences is in search of: A dependable, flexible, and detail-oriented person is needed to join a research team at the University of Southern California to participate in new pilot studies related to substance use, including studies related to cannabis use during pregnancy. These studies are investigating harm reduction approaches to substance use, including how expanding cannabis legalization may worsen existing maternal health disparities.
 
Employment Involves:
(1) Data collection. Conducting one-on-one interviews and focus groups with study participants (e.g., people who inject drugs, women who use cannabis during pregnancy, young women who vape, health providers and midwives);
(2) Data analysis. Conducting data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis, grounded theory using ATLAS.ti);
(3) Project management. Supporting all study-related project and data management (e.g., Institutional Review Board submissions and related protocols, managing and storing data according to HIPAA, managing
transcription of data).
 
 
Excellent English writing and speaking skills are required, and bilingual in English and Spanish writing and speaking skills are ideal. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational capabilities, superb problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks. Opportunities for mentorship and support in writing manuscript writing and peer-reviewed publications are available. Flexible hours on some evenings and weekends may be needed (e.g., conducting research interviews to accommodate study participants’ schedules). The majority of the work will be conducted remote from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday). Prior experience in a research environment is preferred.Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the social sciences or in a health related field is preferred. 

For more information or to apply, please email Rachel Carmen Ceasar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at rceasar@usc.edu. 

 
REMINDERS
Training Opportunities
Please let us know of any opportunities/needs you may have for a trainee on any of the research projects you are currently working on or are planning for!  We are always looking to match interested early career, graduate, or undergraduate level trainees with faculty who can provide a training/mentorship openings.  Please fill out this form to be added to our IAS database. 


Minor in Addiction Science - Registration is Open!

This minor is designed for students with an interest in addiction who plan to enter medical, pharmaceutical, social work, or other graduate programs, or who are interested in pursuing a career in which a background in addiction may prove beneficial. 

Courses and research are delivered from broad areas of expertise within - Preventive Medicine, Pharmacy, Social Work, and Psychology. Students will gain a real-world understanding and recognize that addictive behaviors exist within a complex environment involving commercial - economic, political, and sociocultural forces.

GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Title Release Date Code Issuing Org FOA/Notice #
HEAL Initiative: Opioid Exposure and Effects on Placenta Function, Brain Development, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 8/29/2022 R21 NICHD RFA-HD-23-033
HEAL Initiative: Opioid Exposure and Effects on Placenta Function, Brain Development, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 8/29/2022 R21 NICHD RFA-HD-23-031
HEAL Initiative: Opioid Exposure and Effects on Placenta Function, Brain Development, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 8/29/2022 R01 NICHD RFA-HD-23-030
HEAL Initiative: Opioid Exposure and Effects on Placenta Function, Brain Development, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 8/29/2022 R01 NICHD RFA-HD-23-032
Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) Initiative: Basic Research on The Deleterious Effects of Acute Exposure to Ultra-Potent Synthetic (UPS) Opioids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 8/17/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-056
HEAL Initiative: Development and validation of virtual assessments to study children and caregivers in their natural environment (R01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 8/17/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-050
HEAL Initiative: Development and validation of virtual assessments to study children and caregivers in their natural environment (R01- Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) 8/17/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-055
Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence (U54 Clinical Trial Optional)  8/11/2022 U54 NICHD RFA-HD-23-035
NIDA REI: Addressing Racial Equity in Substance Use and Addiction Outcomes Through Community-Engaged Research at Minority Serving Institutions (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 8/9/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-032
NIDA REI: Reaching Equity at the Intersection of HIV and Substance Use: Novel Approaches to Address HIV Related Health Disparities in Underserved Racial/Ethnic Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 8/9/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-023
NIDA REI: Addressing Racial Equity in Substance Use and Addiction Outcomes Through Community-Engaged Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 8/9/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-013
HEAL Initiative: Oral Complications Arising from Pharmacotherapies to Treat Opioid Use Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 8/3/2022 R21 NIDCR RFA-DE-23-016
HEAL Initiative: Oral Complications Arising from Pharmacotherapies to Treat Opioid Use Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 8/3/2022 R01 NIDCR RFA-DE-23-015
Early Liver Transplantation Cohort Study for Alcohol-associated Liver Diseases (Collaborative R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 7/21/2022 R01 NIAAA RFA-AA-22-003
HEAL Initiative: Preventing Opioid Misuse and Co-Occurring Conditions by Intervening on Social Determinants (R01 - Clinical Trials Optional) 7/13/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-051
HEAL Initiative: Multilevel Interventions to Reduce Harm and Improve Quality of Life for Patients on Long Term Opioid Therapy (MIRHIQL) (R01 Clinical Trial Required) 7/11/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-041
Transformative Research on the Basic Mechanisms of Polysubstance use in Addiction (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 6/2/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-015
Pathogenic Mechanisms influencing Blood Brain Barrier function in HIV and Substance Use Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 4/26/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-012
Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50 Clinical trial Optional) 4/14/2022 P50 NIAAA RFA-AA-22-001
Alcohol Health Services Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 4/7/2022 R01 NIAAA PAR-22-156
Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Research (R01 Clinical Trial Required) 4/7/2022 R01 NIAAA PAR-22-158
NIDA Research Center of Excellence Grant Program (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) 3/14/2022 P50 NIDA PAR-22-133
Implementing Comprehensive HIV services in Syringe Service Program (SSP) Settings (R01 - Clinical Trial Required) 2/25/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-23-006
Emergency Awards: HEAL Initiative-Early-Stage Discovery of New Pain and Opioid Use Disorder Targets Within the Understudied Druggable Proteome (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 1/20/2022 R21 NCATS RFA-TR-22-011
Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) 1/10/2022 R21 NIDA RFA-DA-22-038
Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 1/10/2022 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-22-037
HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 1/7/2022 R01 NINDS RFA-NS-22-034
High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 9/8/2021 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-22-040
Mechanism for Time-Sensitive Drug Abuse Research (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) 9/2/2021 R21 NIDA PAR-22-027
Mechanisms of Alcohol Tolerance (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) 6/22/2021 R21/R33 NIAAA PAR-21-250
Secondary Analyses of Existing Datasets of Tobacco Use and Health (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 3/10/2021 R21 NIH RFA-OD-21-003
Advancing technologies to improve delivery of pharmacological, gene editing, and other cargoes for HIV and SUD mechanistic or therapeutic research (R01- Clinical Trial Optional) 2/26/2021 R01 NIDA RFA-DA-22-010
Tobacco Regulatory Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) 2/17/2021 R01 NIH RFA-OD-21-002
BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 1/15/2021 R21 NEI RFA-EY-21-001
Providing Research Education Experiences to Enhance Diversity in the Next Generation of Substance Use and Addiction Scientists (R25 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) 10/28/2020 R25 NIDA PAR-20-236
New Models of Integrated HIV/AIDS, Addiction, and Primary Care Services (R01 Clinical Trial Required) 8/28/2020 R01 NIDA PAR-20-273
Extracellular RNA carrier subclasses in processes relevant to Substance Use Disorders or HIV infection (R21- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 3/25/2020 R21 NIDA PAR-20-148
Extracellular RNA carrier subclasses in processes relevant to Substance Use Disorders or HIV infection (R01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 3/25/2020 R01 NIDA PAR-20-147
Strategic Alliances for Medications Development to Treat Substance Use Disorders (R01-Clinical Trial Optional) 7/25/2019 R01 NIDA PAR-19-318
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