About
The mission of the Substance Use Scientific Working Group (SU SWG) is to support research to understand current patterns of substance and polysubstance use (inclusive of opioids, stimulants, sedatives, cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine), among persons with HIV and those at risk, and to elucidate how they impact HIV disease transmission and outbreaks. The SU SWG brings together CFAR investigators from varied backgrounds with a shared interest in tackling the unique issues facing persons with substance use disorders living with, or at risk for, HIV, particularly people who inject drugs (PWID) who are a key vulnerable population.
The SU SWG addresses a key NIH HIV priority area furthering “research that examines health and social issues, such as other infectious or non-infectious conditions and substance use or mental health disorders”. We aim to create and support a multi-disciplinary network of UW researchers with diverse backgrounds and expertise to develop substance use research and receive critical feedback on projects and grants.
The Substance Use Scientific Working Group aims to stimulate interdisciplinary scientific collaboration to investigate the intersection of substance and HIV, an area that is critical to address to end the national and global HIV epidemic. Our overall goal is to cultivate new skills and knowledge related to substance use and HIV research among early-stage investigators and those new to HIV or substance use research, particularly those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
Activities
The Substance Use Scientific Working Group will:
- Create and support a multi-disciplinary network of UW researchers with diverse backgrounds and expertise to develop substance use research and receive critical feedback on projects and grants.
- Cultivate new skills and knowledge related to substance use and HIV research among early-stage investigators and those new to HIV or substance use research, particularly those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
Resources
University of Washington Research Centers (Specific SU SWG Member Involvement)
Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (Banta-Green and Hatch). The Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) is a multidisciplinary research center within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Washington. Its mission is to advance research, policy, and practice to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities affected by alcohol and drug use and addiction. The UW ADAI is home to the Pacific Northwest Node of the NIDA Clinical Trials Network, jointly led by Mary Hatch, Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and John Roll, WSU Professor and Vice Dean of Research. ADAI is also home to the Center for Community Engaged Drug, Education, Epidemiology and Research Center, directed by Caleb Banta-Green, Research Professor in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.
Behavioral Research in Technology and Engineering (BRiTE) Center (Hallgren). Housed at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, the BRiTE Center brings together a diverse group of researchers, clinicians, technologists, patients and mental health advocates with a common goal of improving the lives of those suffering with mental illness, their families, and communities.
The Harm Reduction Research and Treatment Center (Clifasefi) is located in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington – Harborview Medical Center. Its mission is to work collaboratively with substance users, community members and organizations to develop, conduct, evaluate and disseminate evidence-based interventions that help to reduce substance-related harm, improve quality of life, and promote social justice and racial equity for affected individuals and their communities.
Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (Walker). One of three indigenous centers world-wide, IWRI supports the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples to achieve full and complete health and wellness by collaborating in decolonizing research and knowledge building and sharing. IWRI’s mission is to marshal community, tribal, academic, and governmental resources toward innovative, culture-centered interdisciplinary, collaborative social and behavioral research and education.
Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (Whiteside). The HIPRC is a worldwide leader in researching how people suffer injuries and what can be done to prevent them. The center is affiliated with the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Over 40 full-time faculty and staff are devoted to conducting research, education and prevention programs aimed at diminishing the personal impact of trauma, and broadening the effectiveness of injury prevention and treatment programs regionally and nationally. The Center directs its research and programs towards those groups at greatest risk of injury: children, the elderly, the poor, people of color, and residents of rural areas. The goal is to reduce the rates of injury and death among these groups from unintentional events such as car crashes and drownings, and from purposeful acts such as suicide and murder. Efforts span the continuum of medical care, from epidemiological research to determine injury causes, to acute care of trauma patients, to rehabilitation in the hospital and home.
The Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Hartlzer) provides services to develop and strengthen the substance use disorder treatment and recovery workforce in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Located at ADAI, the NWATTC seeks to accelerate community-based implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for treatment and recovery by: Sponsoring training online and in-person to enhance clinical knowledge and skills, and adoption of EBPs, Providing intensive technical assistance to support systems change and organizational efforts to implement EBPs, Offering consultation for systems-level change in the emerging new landscape for behavioral health care, Disseminating science-based information on EBPs, cultural competence, and more.
People
Substance Use SWG Leadership
Judith Tsui, MD, MPH; Scientific Working Group Director; Professor, UW Dept of Medicine (General Internal Medicine), University of Washington
Sara Glick, PhD, MPH; Scientific Working Group Co-Director; Associate Professor, UW Dept of Medicine (Allergy and Inf Diseases), University of Washington
Substance Use SWG Steering Committee
Geetanjali Chander, MD, MPH; Professor, UW DOM (General Internal Medicine), University of Washington
Shireesha Dhanireddy, MD; Professor, UW DOM (Allergy and Inf Diseases), University of Washington
Mary Hatch, PhD; Associate Professor, UW DOM (Psychiatry and Behav Sciences), University of Washington
Joanne Stekler, MD, MPH; Professor, UW DOM (Allergy and Inf Diseases), University of Washington
Emily Williams, PhD, MPH; Professor, UW SPH (Health Systems and Population Health), University of Washington
Contact
Judith Tsui, Substance Use SWG Director, tsuij@uw.edu
Sara Glick, Substance Use SWG Co-Director, snglick@uw.edu