News from the Node

There are openings for a Project Manager, Research Assistant, and Research Coordinator at the Northeast Node of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN).

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The NIDA T-32 Science of Co-Occurring Disorders Postdoctoral Training Program, led by Northeast Node faculty affiliate Alan Budney, PhD at Dartmouth College, is welcoming post-doctoral fellow applicants. This is a unique transdisciplinary/translational research program focused on co-occurring substance use and other mental or physical disorders offered through the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. During the typical 2-3 year-long appointments, postdoctoral fellows will be provided with research opportunities in intervention research under the mentorship of faculty that are experts in their fields and leading diverse projects funded by NIH and other federal institutes. To be eligible, applicants must have completed their training in psychology, or a related discipline and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Trainees are selected on the basis of scholastic record and commitment to a career in research related to addiction and mental health. Benefits include a stipend, medical insurance coverage, and travel funds supported by NIH Institutional Training Awards. To apply, applicants should forward their curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and 3 letters of reference to Brian Goodness. Contact Dr. Budney, or Dr. Stanger for more information.

The Northeast Node is pleased to announce CTN-0103, entitled “Expanding Clinical Research Training on Implementing the Evidence-based Hub and Spoke Model of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder”. The Vermont Hub and Spoke Model (VT HSM) of substance use disorder care allows providers to initiate medication treatment for persons with opioid use disorder with assistance from local opioid treatment programs (Hubs) and then support ongoing care of patients through office-based treatment (Spokes) (with flexible movement back into Hubs for patients in need of additional stabilization). The Node will collaborate with its partner, the New Hampshire (NH) Citizens Health Initiative, that helps lead the Northern New England (NNE) Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Network across ME, NH, and VT. The NNE ECHO is an expansive collaborative designed to implement a regional network of telehealth services for sharing of knowledge from multidisciplinary expert mentors and teams across a virtual network using the Project ECHO model. This model uses web-supported case-based learning to provide direct education and support to clinicians and communities addressing the opioid epidemic to improve access, care delivery, outcomes and health.

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There is an opening for a Research Assistant position for the Northeast Node of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN). We are looking for someone to provide support and assistance to the Principal Investigator, Director of Operations, and Research Project Managers on projects aimed at developing, evaluating, and disseminating new prevention and treatment options for substance use disorders in community-based medical settings in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In addition to helping with study procedures, this position will aid in the dissemination/communications of Northeast Node activities to a broad array of stakeholders; work collaboratively with local partners, other CTN nodes across the US, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); assist with social media and website management; and utilize knowledge of the Node partners’ research interests to assist with leveraging CTN-funded studies to the rural areas represented by the Northeast Node.

More details on this position and how to apply here: https://searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/49952 

The Northeast Node (PI Dr. Lisa Marsch) is very pleased to join the New England Consortium (Lead Node, PI Dr. Kathleen Carroll) and the Health Systems Node (PI Dr. Cynthia Campbell) on CTN-0092, “Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Phenotyping Feasibility for Clinical Trials.”

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New Hampshire is starting 2019 off with the opening of “The Doorway-NH” program which is set to provide 24/7 access to help for substance use that is within an hour’s reach of any New Hampshire resident. In light of the opioid crisis that has disproportionally affected New Hampshire, this program is intended to make screening, evaluation, and care coordination services more centralized, available, and accessible. The Doorway-NH program is a modified “hub and spoke” model where the doorways will serve as the “hubs” and work with local providers (“spokes”) to implement regional approaches to the opioid crisis. Residents who are looking for help with substance use disorders or how to access treatment in the state can call 2-1-1 at any time to access hub services.

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Members of the Northeast Node attended Catholic Medical Center’s 4th Annual Summit on Management of the Opioid-Dependent Patient and Optimal Pain Treatment Friday, November 16, 2018 in Nashua NH. This all-day event featured speakers from CMC Addiction Medicine, New Era Medicine/Fusion, the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition, and the DEA, among others. Tackling timely topics such as X-waiver training, endocarditis, and infectious disease complications of IVDU, and conference addressed issues relevant to researchers, clinicians, and all stakeholders in the opioid epidemic. The conference also included presentations offering individual perspectives and on the ground clinical experience in the opioid crisis, including Patty Labrie RN and Kristen Byron’s RN “Bedside View of the Opioid Epidemic” and Dr. Po Hsu’s “Opioid Crisis: One Clinician’s Pilgrimage.” Anne Maria Zanfagna’s powerful portrait series “Angels of Addiction” was featured at the conference with the artist addressing the audience over lunch with her personal story.

More on the summit here.

On November 15th the Northeast Node Science Series welcomed Kay Jankowski, PhD and Erin Knight, PhD from the Dartmouth Trauma Interventions Research Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for a presentation entitled, “The Effects of Caregiver Substance Use Disorder on the Well-being of Children and Youth.”

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Investigators and partners of the Northeast Node were recently featured in an in-depth article on evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder in New Hampshire. The article examines programs that are combating the opioid crisis in the state, bringing science and novel approaches to increasing access to treatment for those in need, including pregnant moms with opioid use disorder. We are so proud of our partnering organizations and investigators for not only continuing to bring hope and support to those in need, but for doing it with the utmost dedication. We are proud to work alongside these men and women!

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On September 27^th, the Northeast Node’s Science Series welcomed Laura Byrne, Executive Director of the HIV/HCV Resource Center in Lebanon, NH, for a presentation entitled, “What’s the Point? Harm Reduction through Syringe Exchange in White River Junction and Springfield, VT.”

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