Project Details
Description
Mentorship in research on opioid use disorder, HIV and marginalized populations
People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for overdose and increasing HIV risk, yet they sub-optimally
receive evidence-based opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and HIV prevention measures. Engaging PWID
and persons with OUD from marginalized groups requires innovative approaches. Aaron D. Fox, MD MS is an
Addiction Medicine physician and Associate Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine-
Montefiore Medical Center. He is an experienced research mentor, the director of the Bronx Transitions Clinic,
which provides a medical home to formerly incarcerated individuals, and the principal investigator of two
clinical trials of innovative buprenorphine treatment interventions (see below). Einstein-Montefiore’s Institute for
Clinical and Translational Research, and the Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research, provide an
outstanding environment for supporting early-stage investigators and trainees. As part of the NIH HEAL
initiative, Einstein-Montefiore was recently awarded one of four IMPOWR grants to develop a research center
on chronic pain and OUD. In this K24 mid-career mentorship award, Dr. Fox proposes to capitalize upon these
resources in mentoring six talented early-stage investigators in research on OUD, HIV, and marginalized
populations. Dr. Fox would also gain skills in mentoring, new research methods, and drug policy leadership
with the following career development objectives: 1) To provide outstanding mentorship to diverse early-stage
investigators who will develop independent research careers in OUD treatment and HIV prevention; 2) To gain
skills in internet-mediated HIV prevention research; and 3) To translate evidence into clinical guidelines and
policy regarding access to addiction treatment and HIV prevention services. To meet these objectives, Dr. Fox
will convene an advisory team with expertise in mentoring, internet-mediated research, and drug policy, while
participating in training specific to research mentoring and health policy leadership. Dr. Fox’s current studies
provide a unique environment where early-stage investigators can participate in patient-oriented research in
primary care, hospitals, syringe services programs, and a post-incarceration “transitions clinic.” Dr. Fox leads
two large randomized controlled trials: buprenorphine microdose inductions for hospitalized patients with
chronic pain (RM1DA055437), and the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of buprenorphine
treatment initiation at syringe services programs (R01DA044878). This application also proposes new internet-
mediated HIV prevention research in collaboration with NEXT Distro, the first formal internet-based mail
delivery syringe services program in the United States. These studies will serve as a platform for trainees to
develop careers in patient-oriented research that is highly relevant for drug policy and clinical guidelines.
Completion of the proposed K24 award would advance research in OUD treatment and HIV prevention, while
also expanding and diversifying the research workforce dedicated to OUD, HIV, and marginalized populations.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 8/15/23 → 7/31/24 |
Funding
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: $184,804.00
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