SBIR-STTR Award

The overall objective is to develop an innovative educational videotape which describes how drugs of abuse act in the brain. The video will have creative yet scientifically accurate animation and a script which introduces neuroscience to adolescents. Specific aims for Phase I are: 1) To develop the initial storyboard; a series of computer-constr-ucted images that form the foundation of the animated video. Images will illustrate brain/neuron structure and function, and the cellular actions of nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, phencyclidine and heroin. 2) To construct a short (3 minute) 2-dimensional animated sequence on video describing the cellular actions of nicotine. 3) To develop an outline for the narrative script to describe brain/neuronal structure and function, cellular actions of drugs, and behavioral effects. 4) To develop a student instructional guide (outline) which contains a review of the concepts described in the video. 5) To perform an initial evaluation of the narrative script outline, the short animated sequence, the student instructional guide outline and to design a complete evaluation of the final product by students and key individuals in organizations that provide substance abuse programming to schools. The use of art, science and computer technology to develop this video is a novel approach to educate adolescents how drugs work in the brain. The final product should be a useful addition to the informational components of substance abuse prevention programs.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The proposed video uses creativecomputer technology and an up-to-date scientificapproach to showadolescentshowdrugs actually work, and also provides an introduction to basic bio logy. The major market will be the U. S. school systems. The video will also have a Spanish version, which will be of special interest to U. S. schools with large Hispanic populations, and in Central and South America, where countries have begun to coop erate with the U.S. government in the war on drugs". U.S. agencies such as NIDA, and the Departments of Education and Defense may also be interested in this video. Drug education has become an important issue for dependents of DOD personnel overseas. With careful attention to the development phase, the project has a great potential for commercial success.National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The objective is to produce an innovative educational videotape that describes the neurobiologic basis for the actions of drugs in the brain. The video will have creative yet scientifically accurate animation and a script that introduces neuroscience to high schoolers. Phase II aims are to 1) complete the final storyboard comprising a series of computer- constructed 3-dimensional images that illustrates the structure and function of the brain and the cellular and behavioral actions of nicotine, morphine, cocaine, and marijuana, 2) create the final animation using 2D and 3D animation techniques and to render the animation for transfer to videotape by a video production company, 3) create the narration for the videotape, 4) construct the student instructional guide that will contain a list of learning objectives and a section for testing knowledge, and 5) proceed with a two-step evaluation of the learning program by key individuals in organizations that provide substance abuse programming to schools, and by 20 high school science classes. The use of art, science, and computer technology to develop this video is a novel approach to educate adolescents how drugs work in the brain. The final product should be a useful addition to the informational components of drug education and prevention programs.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research: The video uses creative computer technology and an up-to-date scientific approach to show adolescents how drugs work in the brain. It also provides an introduction to basic biology. The major market will be the U. S. school systems; the video will also have a Spanish version_of special interest to U. S. schools with large Hispanic populations. Other markets include nursing schools, community colleges, and drug treatment facilities. The project has a great potential for commercial success because this video is unique visually and scientifically.National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)