Being involved in public health research for the past 40 some years, I feel fairly confident in saying that the group here at CHESS (which includes NIATx), well, we're pretty darn good at what we do.
We're really in a lucky situation. We can let our imaginations run wild, without limitations or barriers.
But in the real world we all face limitations and barriers. For many of our NIATx organizations just keeping the doors open or making payroll are a daily reminder of that.
One of the barriers that we struggle with at CHESS is how do we get the results of great research into the hands of the people who need it most. Effective dissemination has to be a priority for us.
And that is one of the many reasons that I'm excited to announce that beginning October 1, CHESS will join the Florida Node Alliance of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN).
The CTN works to bring researchers and treatment providers together with the aim of improving substance abuse treatment. What this means is that we'll be able to conduct large scale studies that can take into account the variations between treatment agencies and variations in payment schemes so that the research will be of more practical value.
The CTN will allow our research to expand beyond tightly controlled laboratory environments. Having access to agencies that represent a range of delivery sites and philosophies will help us to better understand the real-world implications of our research.
When we start moving into the community and trying things out we will have a much better idea of what works, when it works and for whom it works. That's one of the problems with Evidence Based Practices (EBPs). What worked in a very controlled environment doesn't necessarily translate in the real world.
This will allow us to extend work that NIATx has already begun through programs like Advancing Recovery. Advancing Recovery took EBPs, continuing care for example, and partnering with treatment agencies and State government learned what it takes to make these innovations work in the real world.
Technology will be the focus of the Center's work with the Clinical Trial Network, beginning with Addiction-CHESS (A-CHESS), with plans to test similar technology under development for families (FAM-CHESS), drug courts, and a number of other populations.
And through this new relationship with CTN and the continued work of all our NIATx member organizations, my hope is that the results of our research will be relevant to the full range of treatment agencies, and not just a limited subset.
David Gustafson
Director, NIATx
