Jennifer Gibson, Author at Foundation of Hope

14 05, 2026

Early Neighborhood Contexts Shapes Neuropsychiatric Risk in Children | Rebecca Stephens, PhD – Marissa DiPiero, PhD | $58,540

Early Neighborhood Contexts Shapes Neuropsychiatric Risk in Children 2026 Award: $58,540 It is widely known that development is shaped by a complex interplay of biological and environmental factors. However, the variables most often used to operationalize environmental effects are unable to capture the broad neighborhood- and community-level contexts that shape development. Our research aims to determine which elements of the environment have the strongest impact on cognition, risk for psychiatric illness, and brain structure over time, paving the way for more targeted interventions aimed at mitigating risks associated with poorer environmental exposures. Need/Problem: Environmental factors interact with brain development to influence children's development across domains. To date, however, the examination of such environmental characteristics has largely been limited to familylevel indicators, with little consideration of key neighborhood and community contexts that can shape development across time. Grant Summary: We [...]

14 05, 2026

The Influence of Estradiol on GABAergic Signaling in Perimenopausal-Onset Anhedonia | Erin Bondy, PhD | $59,326

The Influence of Estradiol on GABAergic Signaling in Perimenopausal-Onset Anhedonia 2026 Award: $59,326 Depression characterized by anhedonia—decreased interest or pleasure—during perimenopause is common, but our knowledge of how this arises and how to best treat it remains understudied. In this project, we will examine how hormonal variability and signals in the brain linked to mood respond to estradiol treatment. Findings will provide the first step towards development of novel treatments and inform the use of existing treatments to alleviate depressive symptoms during perimenopause. Need/Problem: Anhedonia, the loss of interest or pleasure, that arises during perimenopause is prevalent and associated with marked distress and reduced functioning. Improved understanding of the biological basis of perimenopausal-onset anhedonia and its treatment with estradiol is needed to shape intervention and alleviate suffering. Grant Summary:To examine a potential biomarker of perimenopausal-onset anhedonia, we will measure [...]

14 05, 2026

Biomarkers of Persistent Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors | Zev Nakamura, MD | $57,240

Biomarkers of Persistent Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors 2026 Award: $57,240 Many cancer survivors experience lasting memory and concentration problems after treatment, often alongside depression, anxiety, or stress. This project will study biological signals in breast cancer survivors to better understand how cognitive and mental health symptoms may be connected and help guide the development of future mechanism-based treatments that improve long-term brain health for cancer survivors. Need/Problem:At least 1 in 3 cancer survivors experience persistent problems with memory, attention, and thinking after cancer treatment, often called “chemobrain.” These cognitive symptoms frequently occur alongside depression, anxiety, and stress and can interfere with work, daily functioning, and quality of life. Despite how common these challenges are, we have no established treatments. Grant Summary:This project will examine biological markers in the blood of long-term breast cancer survivors to better [...]

14 05, 2026

EEG-Based Detection of Brain State Dynamics Associated with Auditory Verbal Hallucination | Roza Vlasova, PhD – Guorong Wu, PhD | $101,410

EEG-Based Detection of Brain State Dynamics Associated with Auditory Hallucinations 2026 Award: $101,410 For many people with schizophrenia, hearing voices that aren't there is a daily reality, but existing treatments don't work for everyone. Our research uses brain activity recordings to map how the brain shifts between different states, and to pinpoint the moments when it becomes most vulnerable to producing hallucinations. This knowledge could transform brain stimulation therapy from a "where to stimulate" approach into a "where and when to stimulate" approach, one that acts at precisely the right moment to weaken the abnormal brain states that give rise to hallucinations. Need/Problem: Voices heard in the absence of a real sound are known as auditory verbal hallucinations. This symptom affects most people with schizophrenia, and for about 1 in 4 patients, hallucinations persist even with medication, increasing the [...]

14 05, 2026

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Youth with Pediatric Feeding Disorder: Exploring Prevalence, Characteristics, and Unique Treatment Needs | Camden Matherne, PhD | $60,534

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Youth with Pediatric Feeding Disorder: Exploring Prevalence, Characteristics, and Unique Treatment Needs 2026 Award: $60,534 Although early detection and treatment of eating disorders improves clinical outcomes, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a type of eating disorder, is understudied in early childhood. This project will systematically examine ARFID in young children with pediatric feeding disorder, a medical population enriched for ARFID. Study results will guide treatment development for ARFID in early childhood. Need/Problem: Although ARFID and PFD commonly co-occur, the PFD and Eating Disorders fields have been historically siloed, and empirically-based diagnostic and treatment recommendations for ARFID co-occurring with PFD are lacking. Collaborative research between the Eating Disorders and PFD fields to elucidate the ARFID/PFD co-occurrence is a critical first step in developing effective treatment for ARFID in this population. Grant Summary: This study [...]

14 05, 2026

Deciphering Developmental Origin of Neural Connectivity Associated with Substance Use Disorder by Learning Natural Trajectory of Functional Connectivity | Tingting Dan, PhD | $59,939

Deciphering Developmental Origin of Neural Connectivity Associated with Substance Use Disorder by Learning Natural Trajectory of Functional Connectivity 2026 Award: $59,939 Substance use disorder is often rooted in early brain changes that remain hidden until clinical symptoms emerge. Using our “digital bridge” framework, we reconstruct brain maturation trajectories to trace adult neural patterns back to adolescence and identify early precursors of addiction. Our goal is to support proactive, precision-based prevention before substance use problems fully develop. Need/Problem:Substance use disorder (SUD) research is limited by a major gap between adolescent development and adult clinical outcomes. This makes it hard to separate early vulnerability from substance-related brain changes and slows progress toward proactive, precision-based prevention. Grant Summary:SUD is a major public health crisis, but early intervention is limited by the gap between adolescent brain development and adult clinical outcomes. This project [...]

14 05, 2026

Establishing a UNC perinatal wearable data lake for passive detection of postpartum depression | Eric Hurwitz, PhD – Danielle Lowe, MD | $58,820

Establishing a UNC perinatal wearable data lake forpassive detection of postpartum depression 2026 Award: $58,820 Every year, millions of new mothers silently struggle with postpartum depression, not because help isn't available, but because the condition is never detected. Most women go undiagnosed. Our research aims to change that by turning the wearable device a woman already owns into an early warning system. Using AI to analyze patterns in heart rate, sleep, and activity data, we are developing a tool that can passively flag women who may be at risk, no clinic visit, no questionnaire, no extra burden required. This project will validate and expand that tool at UNC and build the data infrastructure needed to bring passive, technology-driven mental health screening into clinical practice. Need/Problem: Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 6 new mothers, yet fewer than 1 in [...]

14 05, 2026

How the Brain Learns to Ignore Noise, and Why This Mechanism Fails in Autism-Related Disorders | Hiroyuki Kato, PhD | $109,932

How the Brain Learns to Ignore Noise, and Why This Mechanism Fails in Autism-Related Disorders 2026 Award: $109,932 Many individuals with autism experience sensory overload, where everyday sounds such as traffic or cafeteria noise can remain intrusive, making it hard to follow speech in noise. In this project, we will study how the brain learns to filter out irrelevant background sound, and how these mechanisms may be disrupted in a mouse model related to autism. Findings in the simple mouse brain should provide a first step toward understanding, and ultimately treating, the sensory difficulties that affect daily life for people with autism. Need/Problem: Around 90% of individuals with ASD experience atypical sensory responses, and difficulty understanding speech in noise can be especially disabling. To develop future interventions, we need to understand the brain mechanisms that normally allow us to [...]

13 05, 2026

Clinical Profiles and Biological Mechanisms of Older Autistic Adults | Gabriel Dichter, PhD – Melissa Walsh, PhD | $200,000

Clinical Profiles and Biological Mechanisms of Older Autistic Adults 2026 Award: $200,000 Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a life-long condition, nearly all ASD research has focused on children, and almost no research has included older autistic adults. Older autistic adults have a far higher risk for parkinsonism that leads to worse psychosocial, physical health, cognitive, and mental health outcomes. However, the biological mechanisms underlying the link between parkinsonism and ASD have not been studied. Need/Problem: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a life-long condition, nearly all ASD research has focused on children, and almost no research has included older autistic adults. Thus, there is almost no knowledge of: (1) psychiatric comorbidities in the aging subset of the autistic population, (2) evidence-based psychiatric care for aging autistic individuals; or (3) training needs for service providers of this population. There [...]

13 05, 2026

Randomized Controlled Trial of Physiology-Informed TMS (piTMS) for Major Depressive Disorder | Flavio Frohlich, PhD – Athena Stein, PhD | $199,991

Randomized Controlled Trial of Physiology-Informed TMS (piTMS) for Major Depressive Disorder. 2026 Award: $199,991 Current TMS treatments for depression use the same fixed timing pattern for every patient, even though real brain activity is irregular, fluctuating moment to moment. This study is testing a new personalized approach, physiology-informed TMS (piTMS), which uses a person’s own brain activity measured with EEG to build the timing of stimulation. By comparing piTMS directly against standard TMS in a randomized clinical trial, we aim to learn whether a more brain-derived stimulation approach can improve symptoms and produce stronger measurable changes in brain function. Need/Problem: Major depressive disorder remains inadequately treated for many people, and even effective therapies can be limited by side effects, time burden, or incomplete remission. Although TMS is a well-established non-medication treatment, current protocols still rely on fixed, synthetic timing [...]

About Jennifer Gibson