The common thread that ties all of the projects of the proposed SCOR together is relapse to drug abuse. MUSC has demonstrated a long-standing interest in substance abuse research as is clearly evidenced by strength in both basic science and clinical research in this area. Importantly, the proposed investigative team has experience in conducting translational research in an NIAAA-funded center initiative since 1996. While our track record in research and clinical efforts in substance abuse is strong, MUSC does not presently have the same strength in women's health initiatives. The SCOR would provide a catalyst to growth in this area. In developing the SCOR application, we gathered individuals with a unique blend of expertise from across campus. The interdisciplinary and cross-college nature of this initiative should ensure the sharing of ideas from multiple perspectives and guarantee that the SCOR has maximum impact on research and the general culture within MUSC.
Specific Aims of the MUSC SCOR:
Specific Aim #1 : To set the occasion for focused, coordinated, integrated and unified efforts along a single program of gender-related research in substance use disorders at MUSC.
Specific Aim #2 : To build an infrastructure to encourage and support gender-based research growth throughout the campus.
Specific Aim #3 : To attract trainees and new faculty to the area of research, particularly patient-oriented research, in women's health issues.
Specific Aim #4 : To centralize various individual research efforts currently underway, as well as those proposed in the SCOR.
Specific Aim #5 : To produce a regional education and training resource for research in women's health. There are a total of five research components. All are focused on gender issues in relapse to substance use disorders. However, the varied investigations range from an exploration of sex differences in response to pharmacologic agents to investigations of gender differences in drug reinstatement in rodents, craving in humans and gender-specific treatment paradigms. Component #1: Sex Differences in an Animal Model of Relapse: Dr. Ronald See, an experienced pharmacologist, will be exploring gender differences in several well-developed animal models of drug self-administration reinstatement. Component #2: Gender Differences in Response to Cues in Cocaine Dependence: Dr. Kathleen Brady will lead this study of gender differences in response to cocaine-related cues and negative emotional states in men and women. This study will take place in the GCRC and involves the measurement of HPA axis response as well as autonomic and subjective response. Component #3: Gender, Menstrual Cycle and Smoking Cue Reactivity: Dr. Himanshu Upadhyaya will conduct a project studying the effect of menstrual cycle on the reactivity to nicotine and negative affect cues in humans. Component #4: Gender Influence on Preclinical Alcohol Pharmacology: Dr. Larry Middaugh will be using a rodent model to investigate the impact of gender and estrus state on the rewarding effects of ethanol and ethanol-conditioned stimuli. Component #5: Vocational Training for Drug-Dependent Women. Dr. Carrie Randall, the Co-PI of this project, will lead the research team of nurses and an experimental psychologist in this applied research project investigating gender-specific vocational services programs in unemployed recovering substance abusing women. This is an opportune time to develop a focused effort on research in women's health at MUSC. In terms of the thematic focus of the proposed SCOR, there is a convergence of opportunities and expertise in translational research in neuroscience and addiction. A cadre of talented and experienced basic scientists and clinical researchers from throughout MUSC interested in the SCOR has emerged and interdisciplinary collaboration and communication has been established. There is strong support from the leadership of MUSC. The focus on women's health and substance use disorders is sorely needed and complements many of the ongoing University efforts. Thus, the timing and thematic focus seem to ideally support the development of a Specialized Center of Research on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women's Health at MUSC.
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