Michigan Public Health - Substance Use Policy and Economic Research Network (M-SUPER)

About the Network

The Michigan Public Health - Substance Use Policy and Economic Research (M-SUPER) Network was officially started in 2020. The network began as a response to the urgent need for research evidence to inform public health decision-making to curb the escalation of drug overdose deaths following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The M-SUPER Network was formalized in 2023 when Dr. Nguyen started her tenure track at the University of Michigan Department of Health Management and Policy. In October 2023, the M-SUPER Network joined the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation as a collaborating program. 

The M-SUPER Network is an interdisciplinary, interinstitutional consortium of faculty, investigators, and students coordinated by Dr. Thuy Nguyen. The network's members employ rigorous quantitative approaches and leverage access to multiple large databases to address pressing substance use policy knowledge gaps. 

Goal and Mission

The M-SUPER Network has brought together interdisciplinary teams of investigators with expertise in health economics, policy evaluation, health services research, and patient outcomes research to advance addiction research and translate our collective knowledge into scientifically-informed policy recommendations for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, advancing health equity, and addressing underlying addictions. Much of the network’s work focuses on access to treatment for opioid use disorder and policies surrounding the opioid epidemic.