BioSim: IAS Biobehavioral Simulated Research Environment Unit
IAS has newly renovated a state-of-the-art 2,600 square foot clinical research space expressly designed for addiction science at the USC Health Science Campus. This facility includes a room designed to be used a simulated bar, cannabis dispensary, or tobacco retail space; separate research participation suites with one-way mirrors equipped with ventilation to clear smoke for inhalational drug administration studies; reception and waiting area; offices and conference room; access biospecimen storage; and private patient counseling and exam space.
This laboratory space will be a groundbreaking catalyst for IAS faulty researchers to collaborate. Examples of such projects include (but are not limited to):
- The impact of social factors on alcohol consumption / tobacco use
- The influence of media and advertisement on purchasing and decision making
- The influences of types of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana products and consumption/use
- Social, behavioral environmental influences on consumption/use and purchasing of products
- Disseminate findings to community members, medical professionals, and policy makers
- Disseminate novel findings to influence local and national policy
- Test potential new pharmacological products
- Addiction Science Training Program – trains early career addiction research scientists to prepare them for a career in this field
Background
Historically, attempts to alter substance use often fail due to powerful and unpredictable triggers catching individuals unprepared. Treatments, guidance, and medications frequently falter outside controlled research settings. It’s essential to first test treatments, policies, and prevention strategies in well-controlled experiments to establish true causal effects before implementing them in the less controlled real world.
Many treatments and policies, initially successful in artificial settings, prove ineffective in reality, wasting substantial resources. Intermediate studies are needed to assess promising interventions in simulated realistic environments, ensuring generalizable results.
Initial regulatory policies lack evidence of their impact on purchasing behavior. Pre-rollout testing is crucial to gauge their effectiveness.
BioSim Unit
Our BioSim Research Unit is a versatile environment that can be transformed into various real-life settings, such as a bar, dispensary, retail space, or lounge. This adaptable space is designed for conducting a wide range of studies, including intervention testing, observational research, and marketing studies on the impact of advertising and consumer behavior. Equipped with customizable layouts and advanced monitoring technology, the space offers a realistic setting to explore human behaviors and decision-making in controlled, yet authentic, environments.
Our facility features four specialized rooms designed for smoking and vaping studies, each equipped with an observation area separated by a two-way mirror. These rooms are tailored for participant engagement, offering a controlled environment with adjustable lighting, soundproofing, and a high-efficiency ventilation system to manage smoke and vapor. The observation areas include video recording capabilities, allowing researchers to discreetly monitor behaviors. The entire space adheres to rigorous safety and regulatory standards, making it ideal for conducting precise and compliant research in smoking and vaping behaviors.
Waiting Area, Staff Stations, & Waiting Rooms
We are advancing science, treatment, and policy to improve the lives of those touched by addiction.
The USC Institute for Addiction Science is the nation’s first university-wide transdisciplinary addiction science institute. We aim to break down silos that have historically prevented scholars and practitioners from different disciplines from working together. Join us!