Community Action to End Substance Use Disorder (CARES Center)
Official title: CARES Center: Community Action in Research to Eliminate Substance Use Disorder
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11362779 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new center that partners people with lived experience, families, and communities to co-design research and improve treatment and access for people with substance use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $504,478 |
| NIH project number | 5R24DA061190-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362779 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include people with current or past substance use disorder, family members or caregivers, and individuals in recovery who want to help shape research and services.
✕Less likely to help
People looking for immediate clinical treatment rather than research input, or those unable or unwilling to participate virtually, may not receive direct personal benefit from joining.
What this research studies
If I join the CARES Center, I'll be invited to a Virtual Patient Engagement (ViP) Panel where people with lived experience, family members, and those in recovery meet and learn about research. Panel members receive training in research basics and help set priorities, co-develop study ideas, materials, and outreach so research reflects real-world needs. The center builds partnerships with community groups and providers and supports researchers to use patient input in study design and dissemination. Most activities are run virtually and aim to include a wide range of backgrounds, substance use profiles, and recovery experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to research and services that better match patients' real needs and reduce barriers to accessing care.
How similar studies have gone: Patient-engaged and community-partnered research has improved relevance and uptake in other health areas, though applying a formal virtual panel specifically for SUD is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Natafgi, Nabil M. — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Natafgi, Nabil M.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.