Funded extension request for "Expanding recovery support for emerging adults with alcohol use disorder: Training in the science of social network sites"

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary: Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Brandon Bergman, is seeking a 6th year of salary support at $142,560 for his K23 to obtain training and conduct mentored research on recovery-related social network sites and other digital recovery supports. This request includes $100,000 for salary, $32,000 for 32% fringe, and $10,650 for 8% indirect costs. During COVID-19, the outpatient treatment program from which Dr. Bergman’s K23 study initially intended to recruit participants transitioned to, and has continued to operate within, a telehealth-only model. This COVID-related challenge led to insurmountable study recruitment barriers. Under the guidance of primary mentor John Kelly, Dr. Bergman adapted K23 aims that both a) maintain the K23’s scope at the nexus of recovery support services and social technology, and b) allow for all study procedures to be conducted remotely. These studies have been outlined in prior K23 research performance progress reports (RPPR). In brief, study 1 will examine the utility and phenomenology of participation in existing, online recovery support meetings (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous via Zoom) in adults with moderate/severe alcohol use disorder (N = 60). To promote online recovery support meeting attendance that can be examined scientifically, we developed a clinical linkage and facilitation that will provide personalized recommendations across three online meeting types: 12-step, SMART, and All Recovery (an inclusive and eclectic mutual-help model). Study 2 examines naturalistic, longitudinal effects of online recovery community participation among individuals "in, seeking, or curious about recovery" who currently use one of two communities – Intherooms.com or Recovery-related Reddit forums (N = 500). These studies have both been submitted to our Institutional Review Board (IRB) and are ready to launch pending approval. A 6th year of salary support for Dr. Bergman would enable him to continue dedicating 75% effort to these studies. Of note, research funding as initially proposed can be repurposed to carry out Studies 1 and 2. Thus, the PI's salary support is the only additional funding request being proposed in this supplement. This administrative supplement is responsive to NOT-OD-21-052 as the request extends beyond merely addressing productivity issues. The supplement would help to redress barriers to K23 recruitment introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. In parallel, the additional year of salary support would help to maintain the trajectory of Dr. Bergman's career development and productivity. Consistent with PA-20-272, the proposed supplement will redress COVID-19-related barriers to preserve the near-term and downstream impacts of Dr. Bergman's work on the K23. The supplement will also preserve the likelihood that Dr. Bergman builds a research program responsive to NIAAA and other NIH priorities. For example, a 6th year of salary support will also provide the PI with protected time to prepare and submit an R01 application that builds on and leverages data from these K23 studies to develop and experimentally test a digital recovery support service linkage intervention.