An Un-Meeting to Address the Opioid Crisis through Translational Science

This "Un-Meeting" will bring together researchers, clinicians, policy makers, public health professionals, healthcare innovators, opinion leaders and other interested groups to discuss and develop new, innovative and effective ideas to address the opioid crisis through translational science. The overall intent of this Un-Meeting is to foster new, collaborative teams/networks and generate ideas to advance research that will reduce the misuse and abuse of opioids, while exploring innovative approaches to improve outcomes for those affected by this epidemic.

The Un-Meeting concept is an event without the rules and structure of a classical conference, with the attendees creating and driving the agenda and discussions. The format provides a unique approach for attendees to discuss their experiences and identify areas of potential research and healthcare innovation and collaboration. It is an interactive way to cultivate ideas and make new academic, industry and government connections with the goal of developing multidisciplinary, collaborative partnerships to address opioid use disorders (OUD) and to help prevent opioid overdoses.

Potential topics:

• Strategies for reducing deaths from opioid overdoses
• Innovative methods to engage individuals with OUD in research 
• Innovative clinical research using mobile technology to treat & prevent OUD
• Prescribing practices and training approaches
• Advancing development of non-addictive pain remedies
• Implementation research that harnesses diverse data and translates best evidence into practice 

The "un-agenda":

• Registration and breakfast / networking - 1 hour
• Framing the issues - 4 slides x 4 minutes (4x4's) - 45 minutes
• Topic identification (agenda creation) - 40 minutes
• Morning breakout sessions - 2 x 45 minutes
• Lunch / networking - 45 minutes
• Afternoon breakout sessions - 2 x 45 minutes
• Closing remarks - 25 minutes

4x4 presenters:

• Redonna Chandler, AIDS Research Program Director, NIDA
• Pablo Cure, Program Director, Division of Clinical Innovation, NCATS 
• Ken Leonard, Director, Research Institute on Addictions and senior research scientist, University at Buffalo
• George Mashour, Associate Dean, Clinical and Translational Research and Executive Director, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research 

Registration & logistics:

• No cost to attend.
• Informal reception to take place on the evening of June 1, 2018 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
• Interested attendees can register through this link: https://redcap.clic-ctsa.org/surveys/?s=Y9DR8MFENK. 
• One travel award will be available for each CTSA Program hub. For CTSA Program hub members interested in receiving travel award information, please contact your hub PI or Administrator prior to May 1, 2018. If you have additional questions, please email unmeetings@clic-ctsa.org.