The Florida Node Alliance of the National Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network (CTN-0144)

University Of Miami School Of Medicine, Coral Gables FL

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

This is an application for years 25-32 of NIDA’s CTN Florida Node Alliance (FNA). The FNA includes Florida and Georgia, two southeast states that continue to suffer from high rates of drug overdoses and unceasing opioid, cocaine and methamphetamine epidemics. These areas have unmet treatment needs and experience challenges in the implementation of evidence-based treatments. The FNA aims to build on our record of success in leading and implementing randomized clinical trials in healthcare settings and integrating substance use treatment into mainstream healthcare. We propose to bring to the CTN the FNA’s considerable expertise in: connecting with hard- to-reach populations; working with adolescents and adult populations challenged by contextual drivers of health; integrating treatment of infectious diseases and SUD; harm reduction; data science and artificial intelligence; and in the cross-cutting areas of health economics and implementation science. The FNA’s research agenda will provide (1) scientific leadership to develop, test, and implement interventions for the full spectrum of substance use in adolescents and adults, and (2) strategies for the integration of SU prevention and treatment services into mainstream adolescent and adult health care. The FNA will apply its expertise in data science and use of electronic health records (EHRs) using precision medicine principles to implement and refine methods to predict individual response to treatment. While achieving its aims, the FNA will provide a comprehensive training infrastructure of mentorship and experiential opportunities to launch the next generation of scholars. Building on a foundation of bidirectional collaboration among research, health-systems, community-based partners, and people with lived experience to ensure that study outcomes are clinically meaningful to patients, providers, and other key stakeholders, the FNA proposes to advance substance use treatment research by implementing interventions in the FNA’s extensive clinical and research networks. To achieve its aims, the FNA is proposing an innovative and cutting-edge research agenda that will (1) use family-focused e-technologies and artificial intelligence interventions for adolescents in pediatric care and school-based clinics, (2) address contextual drivers such as stigma and housing instability to improve treatment uptake and outcomes, (3) deliver integrative SUD treatment and harm reduction models of care for clients at syringe service programs, (4) integrate digital treatment for stimulant use into HIV clinics, and (5) use geospatial and individual-level data to predict treatment response. FNA network partners have demonstrated experience in conducting point of care clinical trials and studies that leverage the use of EHR and claims data. Three CTSIs, together with FNA partners, will facilitate access to a patient population of 20+ million patients across numerous settings such as primary care, EDs, hospitals, FQHCs, school-based clinics, SUD treatment and harm reduction venues.