INSPIRE: Program Overview

The INSPIRE program is an Indigenous Substance Abuse and Addictions Prevention Interdisciplinary Research Education program to develop a cadre of culturally grounded American Indian/Alaska Native substance abuse and addictions scholars.

INSPIRE will provide a 24-month substance abuse and addictions (SAA) research mentoring program to 20 qualified scholars (5 doctoral, 15 postdoctoral/early career) over the next five (5) years. See more about trainee eligibility on the ELIGIBILITY page.

Program highlights will include:

(a) annual research and writing retreats (including a 5-day Fall Immersion Research Training Institute; a 5-day Spring writing retreat; a 1-day AIAN Substance Abuse Research Summit and grant development workshop at the NIDA AIAN national meeting or a selected national scientific conference;

(b) year-round multidisciplinary learning and research experience opportunities (4 quarterly webinars/seminars; funding for on-site Mentor shadowing opportunities; and support for attendance to national NIDA research meetings);

(c) technical assistance (peer review for grant development and submission; statistical, editorial and technical assistance for developing grant applications and manuscript preparation);

(d) seed funding ($22,000 for postdoctoral/early career scientists and $10,800 for doctoral students to conduct pilot studies, conference travel, and travel to meet with mentors and mentorship teams); and

(e) network development via mentorship and participation in professional SAA meetings and conferences.

By the end of the program, Fellows will have designed and implemented a pilot study, published SAA-related articles; presented at a SAA-related conference, and developed or submitted a NIH SAA-related grant proposal.

Program Benefits

Pre-doctoral INSPIRE trainees will also have the opportunity to gain course credit. Trainees may enroll in and complete 10 credit hours toward their doctoral degree program based on approval of their academic unit and advisor. The INSPIRE Program Coordinator will work with the trainee so that academic credit is given for the Indigenous international research field-based practicum (6 credit hours) and other related courses.