Prescription opioids (mu opioid receptor agonists) are the drugs of choice for treating moderate to severe pain,despite well-documented adverse effects of those drugs (e.g., abuse, respiratory depression) and significantpublic health concerns. Mu opioids are the most widely abused of all prescription medications and fataloverdoses have reached epidemic levels. Thus, there is a dire need for more effective treatments for pain withfewer deleterious effects.

The program is designed to provide short-term experience and training inbiomedical research for undergraduate students from racial/ethnic-underrepresented groups, and forstudents from disadvantaged backgrounds. For the renewal, Penn State is joining with the Universityof Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) to enhance recruitment of URM studentsand increase the scope of student research experiences. W. Brian Reeves, M.D., Chair of Medicine atUTHSCSA and previously the PI of Penn State STEP-UP will serve as the contact PI. Dr.

Prescription opioids (mu opioid receptor agonists) are the drugs of choice for treating moderate to severe pain,despite well-documented adverse effects of those drugs (e.g., abuse, respiratory depression) and significantpublic health concerns. Mu opioids are the most widely abused of all prescription medications and fataloverdoses have reached epidemic levels. Thus, there is a dire need for more effective treatments for pain withfewer deleterious effects.