A consortium funded by the Department of Defense to research potential treatments for alcohol and substance use disorders (ASUD), particularly when co-occurring with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) and other psychological disorders, and reduce the number of opioid and other substance use-related deaths, through multidisciplinary, team-based research efforts that translate basic knowledge into enhanced clinical pharmacological treatment protocols and enhanced quality of life for service members, Veterans, and the American public.
PASA investigators developed and compiled a virtual repository of resources to aid in ASUD research. To obtain access, please email pasa@rti.org.
New & Events
Now accepting applications, due by March 5! A brief, intensive, interactive program for mid-career CNS clinical researchers who wish to expand and refine their trial design expertise on Wednesday, June 11-Friday, June 13th.
June 12, 2025
PASA researchers will present on a panel during the ASCP Annual meeting in Scottsdale, AZ from May 27-30, 2025. This panel brings together three diverse topics with cutting edge results that offer promise in the treatment of alcohol and cocaine use disorder in order to highlight the importance of advancing the telehealth delivery of treatment and novel medications in combination with psychotherapy in the treatment of substance use disorders.
May 28, 2025
2025 Q1 PASA Working Group Meetings
Pre-Clinical Working Group, February 3rd at 3PM EST "Advancing PTSD and AUD Research: Exploring Stress Pathways, Compound Applications, and Translational Animal Models" |
Big Data Working Group February 14th at 1PM EST “Experience Accessing Health Data Available in the DoD Database Accessible Through the Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) System” |
Clinical Trials Working Group February 19th at 3:30 PM EST, "CAROMA (Cellphone Assisted Remote Observation of Medication Adherence) Check-Ins and the Costs Associated" & "What is AiCure and the Costs Associated"
January 25, 2025
Aims
PASA has three aims under the primary objective of coordinating and facilitating translational, multidisciplinary, and integrative research aimed at developing pharmacotherapies for ASUD.
Aim 1: Discover
Test new chemical entities and repurpose existing medications in strictly pre-clinical and non-clinical models of ASUD with comorbid PTSD and other psychological disorders.
Aim 2: Phase 1 First-in-Human Safety
Conduct clinical trials of potential medications that include assessment of medical safety and doses for potential efficacy in subjects with ASUD and comorbid PTSD and other psychological disorders.
Aim 3: Phase 2 Efficacy
Conduct multiple site clinical trials to test preliminary efficacy and safety of potential medications or medication combinations in humans with ASUD and comorbid PTSD and other psychological disorders, and to also explore precision medicine tools for matching patients to these medications.
Collaborators
PASA brings together exemplary collaborators to focus research on compounds with promise for further development for the treatment of ASUD
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PASA Core
PI: Tracy Nolen, DrPH and Ryan Whitworth, PhD
PASA Core
PI: Thomas Kosten, MD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI: Miao Zhang, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Ismene Petrakis, MD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI: Andrea Cippitelli, PhD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI: Howard Becker, PhD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI(s): Patrick J. Mulholland, PhD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI(s): Howard C. Becker, PhD and Marcelo F. Lopez, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Christopher Verrico, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Luba Yammine, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Lorenzo Leggio, MD, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: John E. Mendelson, MD
Non-clinical Research Site
PI: Todd Webb, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Steven L. Batki, MD
Clinical Research Site
PI: John Roache, MD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI(s): Marisa Roberto, PhD and Eric P. Zorrilla, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Lori Davis, MD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI: Irwin Lucki, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Lara Ray, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI(s): Dewleen Baker, MD and Victoria B. Risbrough, PhD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI(s): Colin N. Haile, MD, PhD and Therese Kosten, PhD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI: Michael T. Bardo, PhD
Pre-clinical Research Site
PI(s): Kelly Standifer, PhD
Non-clinical Research Site
PI: LiRong Wang, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Christian Hendershot, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Scott Lane, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Seth Norrholm, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: Mackenzie Peltier, PhD
Clinical Research Site
PI: John Krystal, MD
DSMB Member: Julianne Flanagan, PhD
DSMB Member: Paul Van Veldhuisen, PhD
DSMB Member: Andrew Saxon, MD
DSMB Member: Gerard Moeller, MD
DSMB Member: Julie Pedroni, PhD
DSMB Member: Mehmet Sofuoglu, MD, PhD
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