UTHealth Houston Researchers Join National Conversation on Addiction Recovery Science

Published: August 20, 2026

Researchers from the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research recently attended a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) scientific meeting on addiction recovery science to represent UTHealth Houston and help lead the national conversation about the future of the field.

Assistant professor Kathryn R. Gallardo, PhD, LMSW, assistant professor Serena A. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, and associate professor J. Michael Wilkerson, PhD, MPH, traveled to the National Institutes of Health in North Bethesda, Maryland in August to participate in Pushing the Boundaries: A Dynamic View of Addiction Recovery Science. This working scientific meeting brought together NIDA representatives, recovery scientists, and community partners to discuss progress in addiction recovery research and identify new opportunities to advance the science of recovery.

As part of the meeting, Rodriguez served as a panelist for “Supporting Long-Term Recovery: Sustainable Models of Recovery Support, Scale-Up and Scale-Out,” a session exploring strategies to expand and sustain recovery support programs. Wilkerson served as a panelist for “Measuring Recovery as a Dynamic Process: Challenges & Opportunities,” a discussion focused on improving approaches to assessing recovery over time.

“Addiction recovery science is entering an exciting period of innovation and growth, and collaboration across research, practice, and lived experience is essential to advancing the field,” said Gallardo. “This meeting provided an important opportunity to exchange ideas with other leaders from across the country to help shape research priorities that will strengthen recovery support systems and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.”

The meeting provided an opportunity for UTHealth Houston researchers to share their expertise, contribute to national discussions, and help inform future directions for addiction recovery research and practice.