Project summary/Abstract: Since joining the NIDA National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) in 2015, the NorthStar node has made significant contributions to the objectives and priorities of the CTN. The NorthStar node’s experts and partners bring a broad range of research strategies to the CTN including clinical trials, data science, implementation science, community engaged research, digital interventions, innovations such as neuromodulation and psychedelics, and health services research and policy analysis. In this application, the NorthStar node continues to pursue its seven guiding POLARIS (i.e., the North Star) objectives:1) Partner with our communities to meet their needs; 2) address co-Occurring medical, psychiatric and substance use disorders (SUD); 3) use principals of a Learning health system to conduct pragmatic trials; 4) apply Artificial intelligence and other data sciences approaches to enhance SUD research and care; 5) Reach underrepresented populations to ensure SUD research is relevant to diverse populations; 6) leverage Implementation science to promote integration of evidence-based SUD practices into general medical and community settings; and 7) test innovative Strategies for SUD treatment. Our ability to achieve these objectives is evidenced through our track record of leading 8 CTN studies and serving as study sites for another 12 CTN studies. Funding through other NIH, NIDA, and CDC mechanisms including the Justice Community Opioid Network underscores our skill in working with diverse populations and settings (e.g., American Indian/Alaska Natives, Black churches, people experiencing homelessness, the incarcerated, through hospitals, primary care clinics, opioid treatment programs, addiction clinics, jails, emergency departments, pharmacies, and digital spaces). NorthStar’s expertise in workforce development and technology transfer includes multiple NIDA T32 programs, a Learning Health System K12, KL2 programs, the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers, the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence, an Indigenous Health graduate program, MICares’ national provider training platform, and peer recovery training programs all of which ensure our innovations are disseminated for practice implementation and innovation.

Project Narrative: The NorthStar node of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) continues to develop and test interventions that address a variety of substance use problems via its growing collaborative partnerships with clinical research investigators, community representatives, healthcare providers, healthcare institutions, and NIDA. Our constellation of collaborators and partners from diverse backgrounds, settings, and life experiences enhances our creativity and quality as we engage in complex scientific discovery to advance the health of the underserved and strengthen our communities’ health.