COACH-affiliated research projects are collaborative efforts in which the research groups participate in partnerships with funding agencies from various federal and state government departments as well as private industry and foundations to conduct research and present educational programming throughout the State, region, and nation. Consistent with Auburn’s mission as a land grant institution, researchers affiliated with the center continue to work with Alabama agencies as well as those at the Federal level to investigate novel approaches for our citizens.

Against this background, COACH is well-positioned to advance program-level research efforts to expand collaborative efforts across the Auburn University landscape as well as institute research training opportunities in substance abuse/SUD research. In October 2023, COACH was awarded $100,000 in Mission Enhancement Funds from the Auburn University Office of the Provost. Funds were awarded to assist COACH in implementing a Research Fellowship Program. COACH research trainees (COACH Fellows) will become ideal candidates to compete for and participate in the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) sponsored research awards (e.g., NIH TL2 and KL2 grant mechanisms) since fellows will learn to approach research projects with an understanding that substance use/SUD problems are individual, community-based, and healthcare system-wide, and require a multidisciplinary team effort to accomplish research goals.

The goals of the COACH Fellows Program are: 1) nurture connections between scholars and community partners that maximize the real-world impact of COACH research and address the distinctive needs of our region, 2) build core competencies around substance use and SUD research and how focused research can also impact regional health disparities, 3) provide mentorship, direct research experience, and grant writing development to launch young careers, and 4) provide skills, training, and educational experiences specific to each scholar aligned with one or more of the four high-level goals in the NIDA strategic plan (i.e., basic science, prevention, treatment, and public health).

Dr. Anne Taylor began serving in the role of COACH Postdoctoral Fellow in October 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on neurocircuit adaptations driving negative affective behaviors during withdrawal in a preclinical model of alcohol use disorder. She has extensive expertise in behavioral neuroscience and addiction biology, with multiple peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Beyond research, Anne is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. She has served as a lecturer at Fisk University and an instructor for Vanderbilt’s Programs for Talented Youth. Throughout her career, she remains dedicated to translating complex scientific discoveries into actionable strategies that enhance healthcare outcomes and advance public understanding of substance use disorders.

As the COACH Postdoctoral Fellow, Anne has played a key role in advancing research efforts alongside Dr. Lindsey Hohmann, contributing to five manuscripts on topics ranging from naloxone training policies in pharmacies to public knowledge of stimulant misuse and the implementation processes behind COACH’s K-12 substance misuse education programs. She is currently working on seven additional manuscripts, all of which are slated for peer review this year.

To deepen her understanding of COACH’s work and Dr. Hohmann’s research, Anne is pursuing a certificate in Clinical and Translational Science through UAB’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Since beginning the program in January 2025, she has attended weekly two-hour lectures, observed an IRB meeting, and will soon present one of her research projects to the class. Additionally, she will be presenting her work on COACH’s opioid sensor device project at Auburn’s annual research symposium, where she has been selected to deliver both a poster presentation and a lightning talk as part of a postdoc panel session. Beyond research, Anne has actively contributed to COACH’s outreach initiatives. She has helped deliver substance misuse education programs to middle school students in Gadsden, Birmingham, and Auburn city schools. She also participated in COACH’s annual summit in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Public Health and participated in VitAL’s Prattville Stigma Summit. Furthermore, she has played a key role in developing COACH’s substance use education curriculum for middle and high school students, creating content aligned with the Price-Hornsby Act, which mandates substance use education for all Alabama students in grades 6-12.