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Substance use and abuse is a major health and social problem in the country, as seen in our criminal justice system and in the increasing rates of infectious diseases related to drug use. Still, there is little research and fewer researchers to examine the issue in the Latino population.
The CDSPR develops and disseminates new knowledge on drug abuse and related social problems from a multidisciplinary perspective. Faculty from a wide range of disciplines collaborate on intellectual and scientific research studies focused on understanding the social and health consequences of drug use and the development of public policies that address the problem of drug abuse.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse granted the center $1.5 million over five years for the Interdisciplinary Research Training Institute, an educational program with three goals: to provide opportunities to enhance the skills for conducting interdisciplinary Latino drug research, to offer guidance to new researchers and to provide a structure for networking.
“Together we’re going to indentify mentors, experts in their area who will work to develop them professionally, specifically, to work with them on publication and to track their progress,” Valdez said. “That will be a two-year mentorship and at the end they should be ready to enter their research careers.”
Five cohorts will participate over the life of the grant. The first group will meet next summer.
The Interdisciplinary Research Training Institute is part of what’s happening at the University of Houston. I’m Marisa Ramirez.
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