• EXPLORE Toolkit
    Protocol News

    CTN-0133 EXPLORE Toolkit

    CTN-0133, Exploring Health Beliefs for Community Engagement and Diversity in Clinical Trials (EXPLORE), aimed to develop a toolkit that would help improve inclusion and engagement of diverse populations in clinical research as a way to broaden the relevance and translation of research findings into practice. The EXPLORE toolkit is now available! The toolkit was developed through a multi-phase process that included systematic review of existing toolkits, domain development, platform design, individual interviews, and two rounds of theater testing with community health workers serving Hispanic communities in Southern New Mexico and American Indian communities in Northern New Mexico. The primary outcomes paper for the study includes results from an evaluation of the tool, in which participants rated domain-specific toolkit importance at an average of 4.48-4.61 on a 5-point scale. Additionally, 79% of participants rated the toolkit “very important” for promoting culturally competent research, and 64% were “very likely” to recommend it. Using a strengths-based approach, the toolkit addresses equity, stigma, and participation barriers, promoting culturally sensitive and community-centered research practices. The toolkit is ideal for clinical trials researchers and community health workers who are interested in learning more about how to engage underrepresented populations in clinical trials research in Southern New Mexico and beyond. Explore the EXPLORE toolkit here!

  • Node News
    Node News,  Protocol News

    News from the New York Node: CTN-0155 Launches Recruitment

    CTN-0155 (Project BISTRO) has officially launched recruitment as of August 17, 2026! After many difficult but inspiring months of planning, training, and imagining a new approach to high-quality, person-centered, community-based opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, we have launched Project BISTRO (Buprenorphine Implementation at SSPs to Reduce Overdoses). Eight (8) pioneering syringe services programs (SSPs) from across the United States are participating in the study and will build capacity to provide onsite buprenorphine treatment. Our team also includes researchers from CTN’s New York Node, Florida Node Alliance, and Appalachian Node, the Emmes Clinical Research Organization, a community advisory board, and partners at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. All 8 Sites have officially been endorsed. The first screening visit officially took place on August 18, 2026. Recruitment will continue for 16 months. The study team is excited to reach this important milestone and looks forward to updating the CTN community on the study’s progress. For questions or comments, please contact the study team at: ctnbistro0155@nyspi.columbia.edu Posted on August 21, 2026

  • Events,  Node News

    News from the Greater Intermountain Node

    AHSR 2026 The 2026 Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR) Conference will be held October 5-7, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the Greater Intermountain Node. The conference brings together addiction researchers, policymakers, and treatment providers to discuss challenges and opportunities related to equity, access, effectiveness, and implementation of addiction services. Early bird registration ends September 4, 2026. Register by that date to save $100. The conference hotel is likely to sell out, so early booking is recommended. Visit the AHSR 2026 website Save the Date for the CTN Steering Committee Meeting Our Staff Retreat Our annual staff retreat was an action-packed visit to the Game Show Battle Rooms, where we faced off in games inspired by fan favorites like The Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and more, bringing plenty of laughs, suspense, and excitement along the way. We left feeling energized, motivated, and even more connected as a team! Posted on August 21, 2026

  • Node News: Health System Node
    Events,  Node News

    News from the Health Systems Node: Virtual Seminar September 3, 2026 (10am PT)

    Join the CTN Health Systems Node for an upcoming virtual seminar: On Thursday, September 3, 2026 (10am PT, 1pm ET), Tessa Matson, PhD, MPH, Collaborative Scientist at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, will present findings from a CTN implementation trial on factors that distinguished clinics that successfully increased opioid use disorder treatment from those that did not. Connect via Microsoft Teams. Meeting ID: 250 658 877 216 6 | Passcode: B8jq2m9A.

  • New in the Library
    New in the Library

    New in the Library (July – August 2026)

    Here are the latest items added to the CTN Dissemination Library for July – August 2026 (this post will be updated as new items come in): Insights from the development of an online toolkit to promote community engaged substance use research in the Southwest Borderlands Region. Gorvetzian A, et al. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science 2026;10(1):e139. (CTN-0133) Relationships between cannabis and cocaine use in a randomized trial of combined buprenorphine and naltrexone for DSM-IV cocaine dependence. Smith CL, et al. Addictive Behaviors 2026;183:108817. (CTN-0048) Leveraging partnerships to address substance use among American Indian and Alaska Native populations: A commentary on research within the NIDA Clinical Trials Network. Crouch MC, et al. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment 2026 (in press). Sexual delay discounting as a moderator of the association between substance use and condomless anal sex among young black and Latino men who have sex with men. Luo R, et al. Addictive Behaviors Reports 2026;24:100731. (CTN-0083) Posted on August 14, 2026

  • Guam Virtual Conference September 2026
    Events

    Guam’s 7th Annual Behavioral Health & Addictions Virtual Conference, Sept. 23-24 2026

    The Greater Southern California Node and its Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (PSATTC) partners would like to invite you to Guam’s 7th Annual Behavioral Behavioral Health & Addictions Virtual Conference. September 23-24, 2026 (3pm-9:30pm PT). This FREE two-day virtual conference held in recognition of National Recovery Month will feature 4 plenary presentations and 4 breakout sessions, offering 8 concurrent workshop tracks. Whether you are looking to strengthen your clinical practice, learn about emerging trends, or discover innovative approaches to providing care, this conference offers valuable education and practical strategies to support your work. Sponsored by the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center and the Pacific Southwest ATTC. Register here Posted on August 7, 2026