In 2020, the University of Pittsburgh had at least 102 faculty and several doctoral and post-doctoral trainees conducting research in the field of addiction. Their research methods included the whole range of health science research: basic science, animal experiments, translational, imaging, clinical trials, and population science. Combined, their funding originated from multiple NIH institutes: NIDA, NIAAA, NIMH, NHLBI, NIDDK, NCI, NIA, NINDS, as well as SAMHSA, HRSA, and foundations (both local and national). But most projects originated from a single department or focused on one type of research methodology.
In February of 2020, we held a first gathering of addiction research faculty and trainees, from which we developed the Bridging Connections in Addiction Research (BCAR) organization. BCAR started with the School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, and School of Social Work with faculty and students representing Anesthesiology, General Internal Medicine, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Health Policy and Management, Psychiatry, and Radiology.