DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Division of Substance Abuse, Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine requests a 4th 5-year renewal for our Clinician Scientist Training Program, which has been providing intensive training in research methods for clinical and translational investigation of drug abuse since 1991. Presently the Clinician Scientis Training Program supports six early career faculty members engaged in various aspects of drug abuse research. Under the new guidelines, we request support to continue to the mentorship and development of these 6 early career faculty, and, given the new guidelines, transition to supporting 3 positions during the course of the proposed five years of support. The support will permit the Clinician Scientists to spend 3-5 years at Yale's Division of Substance Abuse obtaining clinical and research training under the mentorship of a team of 37 senior investigators whose interests range from molecular neurobiology to health services research. With over 200 externally funded research projects, the central theme of our research program is the development and evaluation of innovative pharmacological and behavioral treatments for individuals with drug addictions in a manner informed by emerging neuroscientific findings. Our multidisciplinary, translational program enables us to conduct research that moves rapidly in both directions from preclinical projects ("bench") to clinical studies ("bedside"). The training goal for this program is to provide Clinician Scientist Scholars at the junior faculty level with a opportunity to devote virtually full-time effort during the initial phase of their careers to learnng research skills and conducting research projects as a critical step toward launching careers as independent research scientists. After initial work conducted with the support of this program, they will be guided to develop scientifically meritorious research proposals (using, for example, R03 and R01 mechanisms) which will provide support for research that extends beyond the period of the program. Since the onset of the program we have provided training for 29 Clinician Scientists, many of whom are among the leaders of their generation of drug abuse investigators. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Addictions are arguably the most costly conditions to society. Thus, investigations into new and improved treatments for addictions are of vital importance. This proposal seeks support to train early career investigators at the junior faculty level for training as clinician scientists investigating drug addiction, with a focus on treatment development.

Addictions are arguably the most costly conditions to society. Thus, investigations into new and improved treatments for addictions are of vital importance. This proposal seeks support to train early career investigators at the junior faculty level for training as clinician scientists investigating drug addiction, with a focus on treatment development.