A widespread health problem across the US, substance use, including substance misuse and use disorders, and chronic pain commonly occur simultaneously and are highly interrelated. Given the degree of interconnectedness between substance use and chronic pain, addressing these conditions together is an important opportunity to improve outcomes for both. At the same time, impactful scientific inquiry is best accomplished by interdisciplinary and diverse teams; therefore, there is an urgent need for research teams to become more diverse.

To improve health and healthcare for patients with pain, the Challenges in Managing and Preventing Pain Clinical Research Center (CHAMPP) realized the need for specialized training for postdoctoral training in this field. Their new NIDA T32 training program, “BUilding an InterprofessionaL and Diverse workforce in substance Use and Pain” (BUILD-UP), will provide personalized and rigorous training to postdoctoral fellows who plan careers at the intersection of substance use and chronic pain. Moreover, as substance use and chronic pain often disproportionately impact marginalized communities, BUILD-UP was designed to support postdoctoral fellows from diverse backgrounds, including people who identify as being from a group excluded based on ethnicity and race, being from a disadvantaged background, having a disability, or being LGBT+.

Led by Dr. Jessica Merlin, Director of CHAMPP, and Dr. Erin Winstanley, CHAMPP Core Faculty, the BUILD-UP T32 will offer fellows the ability to be mentored on a longitudinal research project by experts in the field from the University of Pittsburgh, a hub for research at the intersection of substance use and pain. Fellows will also be able to participate in a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum based on core clinical and translational science competencies, including tailored career development sessions, the option to complete a Master of Science in Clinical Research, seminars on pain and substance use-related topics, and the change to come together in person for annual retreats, in-person conferences, and short-term research experiences.

Aware of the need to promote equity by reducing the barriers presented by having fellows move to a research hub, a critical and innovative aspect of BUILD-UP is that the majority of this 3-year training program will be conducted remotely. With few training programs at the intersection of substance use and chronic pain, and even fewer remote postdoctoral fellowship options, this remote structure is not only novel but can also serve as a model for other training programs who wish to create a diverse workforce and build capacity for equitable research training throughout the US.