Endowments

The Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics is home to four permanent endowments designed to honor outstanding accomplishments and demonstrated dedication to the field of substance use disorders (SUDs) research and education. These awards are made possible because generous donors wished to see young scientists recognized, honored, and encouraged for their pursuits in the field of addiction, research, and education.

Arran Thomas Amadeo Streppa Endowed Fund

The Arran Thomas Amadeo Streppa Endowed Fund was established to support the activities of junior faculty and students in any of UTMB's five health science schools who are working to expand understanding of addiction through research or to improve treatment by applying that knowledge.

Recipients

2025
	Ryan Murphy, Streppa Dissertation Award for Drug Discovery for Substance Use Disorders
2024
	Carlos Dostal, Streppa Rising Star Award in Transforming Healthcare in Addiction
2023
	Kehinde Ogunseye, Streppa Dissertation Award for Addiction Sciences Gracie Vargas, Streppa Champion for STEM Initiatives
2022
	Hubert Lee, Streppa Champion Structural Biology in Drug Discovery Award Sierra Miller, Streppa Champion in Functional Neuroanatomy Award
2021
	Erik Garcia, Streppa Advancing Mental Health Therapeutics Award Christina Merritt, Streppa Champion in SUD Mentoring and Science Award

David V. Herin, Jr., Ph.D. Addiction Pioneer Endowment

The David V. Herin, Jr., Ph.D. Addiction Pioneer Endowment recognizes the achievements of junior investigators in substance use and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Recipients

2025
	Samirah Jackson, Herin Student Jumpstart Research Award
2024
	Eileen Gomez, Herin Student Jumpstart Research Award
2023
	Holly Chapman, Herin Award for Naloxone Education in the Community Hector Gutierrez, Herin Recruitment Award in Addiction Sciences
2022
	Ross Luu, Herin Champion of NeuroID Discovery Award Ryan Murphy, Herin Champion of Drug Disvocery Award Heidi Spratt, Herin Champion of Big Data Award
2021	Tileena Vasquez, Herin Champion of creative Behavioral Research

Elizabeth Fitzgerald Sporar Endowment for Distinguished Initiatives in Addiction Research

The Elizabeth Fitzgerald Sporar Endowment for Distinguished Initiatives in Addiction Research supports an individual faculty member, postdoctoral investigator, student or a team of individuals who have made significant contributions in research on substance use disorder (SUD) or mental health disorders with the potential for future breakthroughs in understanding in therapeutics.

Recipients

2025
	John Allen, Sporar Champion Award for Medications Discovery in Substance Use Disorders Noelle Anastasio, Sporar Pioneer Award for Translational Research and Therapeutics to Treat SUDs Kyce Darouiche, Sporar Collaboration Award for Clinical Research in Substance Use Disorders
2024
	Nolan Dvorak, Sporar Dissertation Award in Drug Discovery for Neurotherapeutics Tom Green, Sporar Award for Explorations into Etiology of Addiction Risk Behaviors Yong Fang Kuo, Sporar Leadership Award for Opioid Research in Vulnerable Populations
2023
	Lisa Cisneros, Sporar Award for Leadership in NeuroID Initiative Christina Merritt, Sporar Champion for Community Overdose Education Jeff Temple, Sporar Award for Behavioral Risk Mitigation in Youth Joshua Zamora, Sporar Award for Outstanding Scientific Progress Jia Zhou, Sporar Award for Leadership in Medications Discovery for Brain Disorders
2022
	Eliseo Eugenin, Sporar Leader in NeuroID Sciences Award Jun-Ho La, Sporar Leader in Non-Opioid Pain Medication Award Fernanda Laezza, Sporar Leader in Neurotherapeutics Award
2021
	John Allen, Sporar Leader in Medication Development for SUDs George Golovko, Sporar Leader in Next Gen Steps for SUD Kamil Khanipov, Sporar Leader in Big Data for SUD Kehinde Ogunseye, Sporar Champion in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for SUD Sciences Andrew Routh, Sporar Leader in NeuroID in SUD Catherine Sampson, Sporar Translational Dissertation Award Eric Wold, Sporar Drug Discovery Dissertation Award

Frances Adoue Lynch Addiction Research Fund

The Frances Adoue Lynch Addiction Research Fund supports the research and academic training of medical students or to support the research and career development of a fellow or junior faculty who shows promise as an addiction scientist and educator.

Recipients

2025
	Christopher Pierson, Lynch Rising Star Award in Pain Research George Golovko, Lynch Leadership Award for Data Analytics in ED Drug-related Visits Jessica Olivares, Lynch Travel Award for Dissemination of SUD Outcomes
2024
	Madelina Nguyen, Lynch Award for Dissemination of Overdose Recovery Strategies Ernst Nicanord, Lynch Leadership Award for Treatment of Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Emma Tumilty, Lynch Champion Award for Reducing Stigma in Substance Use Disorders
2023
	Miles Farr, Lynch Award for Pioneering Community Healthcare Monique Pappadis, Lynch Champion for Lifespan Brain Health
2022
	Shannon Guillot-Wright, Lynch Advancing Equitable Policies through Research Award Denise Wilkes, Lynch Advancing Translational SUD Sciences Award Ping Wu, Lynch Advancing Neurodevelopmental Sciences Award
2021
	David Houghton, Lynch Advancing Translational SUD Sciences Award

Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics (CAST) Award

The CAST Awards were established to recognize the achievements and contributions of staff members carrying out the mission of the Center through research, clinical, and community efforts.

Recipients

2025
	Sophia Rodriguez, CAST Award for Excellence in Clinical Research Support Bob Fox, CAST Excellence Award in Addiction Sciences Team Research Susan Stafford, CAST Excellence Award in Addiction Sciences Team Research
2024
	Brent Fluker, CAST Award for Excellence in Clinical Care of Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders Mary Beth Trevino, CAST Community Hero Award

Contact Us

Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics
Phone: (409) 772-3093
Email: CAST@utmb.edu
Mailing address:
301 University Boulevard
Galveston, TX 77555-0615

Thanks for your interest in our research.