About
Our Mission
The mission of the Center for Addiction Science and Innovation (CASI) is to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics for substance use disorders by fostering cutting-edge research, advancing therapeutic innovation, and translating preclinical findings into clinical solutions.
Message from our Director
Gregory C. Sartor, Ph.D.
Director
Associate Professor
gregory.sartor@uconn.edu
Welcome to the Center for Addiction Science and Innovation (CASI). We are a collaborative community of biomedical and clinical researchers at UConn dedicated to transforming how we understand, prevent, and treat substance use disorders. Our research spans multiple disciplines, including neuroscience, molecular biology, pharmacology, therapeutic discovery, and clinical intervention. Our goal is to develop innovative and effective treatments that address the underlying mechanisms of addiction and improve outcomes for individuals suffering from this devastating disease.
Substance use disorder is a multifaceted and evolving public health challenge that affects every part of our society. In Connecticut, the rise in overdose deaths, driven by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, has had a major impact on individuals and communities. While opioid crisis remains an urgent challenge, CASI’s mission extends further, tackling the full spectrum of substance use disorders, including stimulants, alcohol, cannabis, and misused prescription medications.
As Director, I envision CASI as a place where researchers come together to pursue innovative and rigorous studies that address the urgent need for new and effective treatments for addiction. My goal is to cultivate a community that not only leads in therapeutic innovation but also translates those advances into real-world treatments.
We encourage UConn scientists, students, practitioners, and industry partners to get involved. If you’d like to share an idea, participate in CASI events, or help us grow the center, please reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
How to Get Involved
CASI is the hub for addiction-related research at UConn. Whether your work focuses on neuroscience, behavioral health, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry or clinical practice, we can help you find collaborators, pursue funding, and share your research.
CASI supports the next generation of addiction researchers, clinicians, and public health leaders. Join our listserv to learn about upcoming events and announcements.
CASI serves as a bridge between cutting-edge preclinical research and clinical studies. We help healthcare and behavioral health professionals connect with UConn researchers to design translational studies, explore novel therapeutics, and implement evidence-based approaches.
CASI welcomes collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech professionals interested in developing innovative therapeutics for substance use disorders. We are eager to facilitate joint research initiatives to accelerate translational research.
CASI is committed to community engagement. We offer resources on addiction, host research seminars, and sponsor community outreach events related to substance use disorders.
Your gift accelerates discovery and brings effective treatments closer to the people who need them most. All donations are tax-deductible and directly support our mission to develop and improve therapeutics for substance use disorders. Visit our Support Page.
