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Participant recruitment is one of the most challenging aspects of a clinical trial, directly impacting both the study’s duration and the quality of its results. Therefore, reporting successful recruitment strategies is crucial. This study aimed to document the recruitment tactics and experiences of a research team during a university-based randomized clinical trial, conducted as part of a clinical research immersion program. Recruitment took place from October 2021 to October 2022. Before the study commenced, study team members received formal training in clinical trial participant recruitment from the Principal Investigator. The recruitment strategies were integrated into initial study design, which was approved by the Institutional Review Board. A multimodal approach was employed, incorporating both direct and indirect recruitment methods. These strategies successfully met the enrollment target within the twelve-month period. Throughout the process, team members acquired valuable knowledge in recruitment design and implementation, along with transferable interpersonal and networking skills. In-person recruitment was the most efficient and cost-effective strategy, followed by personal referrals. The primary challenge was accommodating participants’ availability. Other study teams should consider these recruitment strategies during their study designs. Additionally, the knowledge and skills gained by this study team underscore the value of experiential learning in research education.

Introduction Chronic administration of cocaine causes a disinhibited, hyperexploratory response to novel environments. As the norepinephrine (NE) system regulates exploration and is dysregulated following cocaine exposure, we hypothesized that this cocaine‐mediated hyperexploratory response is associated with increased locus coeruleus (LC) reactivity. Methods To test this hypothesis, we used dual fluorescent in situ hybridization immunofluorescence to analyze novelty‐induced c‐fos and tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the LC and high‐pressure liquid chromatography to measure dopamine (DA) and NE concentrations in key catecholamine projection regions following exposure to cocaine. Results Repeated cocaine exposure followed by a 14‐day drug‐free period increased exploration of novel environments, replicating previous findings. Novelty exposure increased LC c‐fos expression, increased anterior cingulate NE, and decreased ventral tegmental area DA. Cocaine exposure decreased amygdala (AMY) DA, but had no effect on LC c‐fos expression or NE in any tested brain region. No interactions between cocaine and novelty were found. Open arm exploration was positively correlated with LC c‐fos expression and NE concentrations in both the anterior cingulate and nucleus accumbens, and negatively correlated with AMY DA concentration. Conclusions Our findings confirm that exposure to novel environments increases LC activity and NE in the anterior cingulate cortex, that long‐term exposure to cocaine dysregulates AMY DA, and that disinhibited exploration in novel environments correlates with NE and DA in regions that modulate risk‐taking and avoidance behavior. Further studies investigating the effects of cocaine on brain catecholamine systems are important in understanding the long‐lasting effects of cocaine on brain function. Chronic cocaine exposure causes a long‐lasting, disinhibited, hyperexploratory phenotype. This effect may be partially driven by changes in locus coeruleus (LC) function, as LC activation in response to novel environments is correlated with this disinhibited exploratory behavior.