Purpose and Goals

The Translational Addiction Research Center (TARC) represents the coordinated and integrated efforts among investigators along a continuum of research that ranges from animal models to human studies on the problem of drug addiction. Researchers at all WSU campuses currently focus on understanding addiction to both licit (alcohol and tobacco) and illicit drugs (e.g., marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine). A key goal for the Translational Addiction Research Center is to foster new professional interactions among researchers using different methods and models in order to catalyze opportunities for translational research on addiction.

Objectives
TARC plans to conduct a seminar series, hold regular faculty meetings, and maintain this web site in order to foster cooperative research. In addition, TARC members are encouraged to meet together in small groups to discuss collaborations.

Structure
The Translational Addiction Research Center will enhance the prominence of two separate existing programs, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program (ADARP) and the Program of Excellence in the Addictions, as a coordinated unit. In addition, creation of the Translational Addiction Research Center provides the structure needed to increase substantive discourse and collaborations among all addiction researchers. This will allow us to train greater numbers of students and post-doctoral fellows in all aspects of addiction science to prepare them for careers in translational science.