Research Archives - Foundation of Hope

3 05, 2024

Investigating Psychiatric Symptoms of Dementia | McElligott | $110,000

Investigating Psychiatric Symptoms of Dementia 2024 Award: $110,000 Psychiatric symptoms like agitation, aggression, disinhibition, and impulsivity, amongst others, are common psychiatric symptoms that may precede cognitive decline that is associated with dementia. This project uses a mouse model of dementia (the P301S tauopathy model) to mechanistically examine these psychiatric symptoms antecedent to cognitive decline. We hypothesize that we will observe differences in neurotransmission (both dopaminergic and glutamatergic) in these animals as compared to age matched controls. Furthermore, we expect to observe differences in responses to commonly prescribed psychiatric medications in these mice. By uncovering neural mechanisms impinged upon by tauopathy, we hope to aid in the discovery of biomarkers and development of therapies to alleviate the symptoms associated with dementia. Need/Problem: Behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (including but not limited to hyperactivity, agitation, mood disturbance, aggression) often precede [...]

3 05, 2024

Development of Individual Differences in Adolescent Brain Structure and Risk | Cohen, Gilmore | $150,989

Development of Individual Differences in Adolescent Brain Structure and Risk 2024 Award: $150,989 Executive function is a critical ability that leads to better life outcomes, while low levels of executive function are a risk factor for mental illness. Therefore, characterizing neurocognitive trajectories of executive function and how they relate to future mental illness is a public health imperative. The main goal of this proposal is to identify aspects of neurocognitive trajectories from birth that predict the emergence of symptoms of mental illness in emerging adulthood. This research will move us closer to developing strategies for early identification and intervention by characterizing when and how neurocognitive trajectories related to executive function diverge to indicate risk for future mental illness. Need/Problem: High levels of executive function are associated with greater educational attainment, job success, and overall quality of life, while low [...]

3 05, 2024

Written Exposure Therapy to Improve Recovery among Sexual Assault Survivors Expansion | McLean | $89,708

Written Exposure Therapy to Improve Recovery among Sexual Assault Survivors 2024 Award: $89,708 Nearly 700,000 US women are sexually assaulted each year. Half of these women continue to experience severe posttraumatic stress (PTSD) six months after assault. Despite the fact that women at increased risk of PTSD can be identified at the time of assault, no interventions to prevent PTSD among women at high risk are currently available. This pilot study tests the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a five-session telehealth intervention to prevent PTSD among women survivors of sexual assault who are at high risk of PTSD. Results from this study will provide the data necessary to obtain funding to perform a large-scale confirmatory trial. Need/Problem: Nearly 700,000 women in the United States are sexually assaulted each year, and 1 in 4 US women are sexually assaulted during [...]

3 05, 2024

Examining the effect of estradiol on mood symptoms during perimenopause through immune gene expression | Bondy | $44,745

Examining the effect of estradiol on mood symptoms during perimenopause through immune gene expression 2024 Award: $44,745 Depression can increase during the transition to menopause (“perimenopause”), and hormonal treatments can help alleviate depressive symptoms. However, the mechanisms of how these treatments work and who they work for remain unclear. In this study, we propose the immune system may play a critical role in depressive symptoms and their treatment. Need/Problem: Rates of depression rise during the transition to menopause (“perimenopause”). Hormone treatments with estradiol can be helpful, but they are not effective or feasible for everyone. More research is needed to understand how and why estradiol works to better inform novel treatment approaches. Grant Summary: We will study expression of immune-related genes in a sample of perimenopausal women with depressive symptoms before and after three weeks of estradiol treatment or [...]

3 05, 2024

Increasing Access to Evidence-Based Therapy for Perinatal Women: A Novel App-Based Approach | Schiller | $64,840

Increasing Access to Evidence-Based Therapy for Perinatal Women: A Novel App-Based Approach 2024 Award: $64,840 Perinatal depression affects 1.4M Americans each year and is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, yet only 7% of those with perinatal depression are diagnosed and treated effectively. Barriers to high-quality, evidence-based care are too high. We have created an new, internet-based behavior therapy app to overcome barriers to care, but we need to determine whether it works to treat depression and whether women find the app usable and relevant to their care. In this study, we will test the efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of this new behavior therapy app. Identifying a population-level, cost-effective, evidence-based behavioral approach to treating perinatal depression would reduce the global burden of illness and improve the lives of women and their children. Need/Problem: Perinatal depression affects 1.4M [...]

3 05, 2024

Identifying Novel Biological Profiles of Early Risk and Intervention for Mood Disorders in Adolescents: Mapping Stress-Responsive Changes in Electrocortical Indices in Adolescent Anhedonia | Feurer, Belger, Roubinov | $74,802

Identifying Novel Biological Profiles of Early Risk and Intervention for Mood Disorders in Adolescents: Mapping Stress-Responsive Changes in Electrocortical Indices in Adolescent Anhedonia 2024 Award: $74,802 Research shows that interpersonal stress increases risk for anhedonia, yet, not all adolescents who are exposed to interpersonal stress go on to experience anhedonia. Therefore, there is a critical need to understand which youth are most likely to experience anhedonia in the context of interpersonal stress. This study will integrate neural and physiological assessments to create novel biological profiles of stress responsivity and will examine whether these profiles can be used to predict adolescent anhedonia. Findings will serve as pilot data for future grants leveraging these biological profiles to improve early risk detection and treatment of adolescent anhedonia. Need/Problem: Anhedonia, the inability to experience or anticipate pleasure, is a core depression symptom that [...]

3 05, 2024

Developing a pre-clinical model to study the interaction of female pubertal hormones and early-life stress in vulnerability to anhedonia | Florido | $44,577

Developing a pre-clinical model to study the interaction of female pubertal hormones and early-life stress in vulnerability to anhedonia 2024 Award: $44,577 This preclinical study aims to explore the interaction between chronic stress and reproductive hormones during puberty in females and investigating their role in vulnerability to depression in adulthood. Focusing on anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, we will investigate the impact of these interactions on cortico-striatal circuits, offering insights into potential resilience factors and critical windows of vulnerability, thus advancing our understanding of major depressive disorder in women. Need/Problem: After puberty, women present twice the prevalence of major depressive disorder than men. The mechanisms by which reproductive hormones shape vulnerability to chronic stress-induced depression during puberty in women remain unexplored. Grant Summary: We will study how chronic stress interacts with reproductive hormones in females to shape [...]

3 05, 2024

Addressing an Urgent Need: Developing and Disseminating a Brief Eating Disorders Intervention for Primary Care (FAST-ED) | Pisetsky | $99,001

Addressing an Urgent Need: Developing and Disseminating a Brief Eating Disorders Intervention for Primary Care (FAST-ED) 2024 Award: $99,001 Eating disorders effect approximately 10% of the population, but many individuals with eating disorders experience many barriers to accessing treatment, including unacceptably long waitlists at specialty care settings. The average delay between onset of the eating disorder and accessing treatment is over 5 years. The goal of this study is to develop and test a treatment for adolescents with eating disorders that is designed to be used in primary care settings and delivered by generalist mental health providers. By increasing access to treatment at the point of detection, we will be able to transform care delivery and improve youth mental health across NC. Need/Problem: Eating disorders effect approximately 10% of the population and have a high mortality rate, but current [...]

3 05, 2024

Novel Paradigm for Modulating Emotion Regulation with Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Zuberer | $103,931

Novel Paradigm for Modulating Emotion Regulation with Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2024 Award: $103,931 Our aim is to explore an innovative approach to addressing Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and its treatment limitations. Our proposed method integrates real-life scenario simulations and comprehensive brain stimulation with alternating current stimulation, designed to reflect daily experiences for individuals with GAD. This holistic approach aims to increase accessibility across diverse populations, bridging the gap between controlled study conditions and real-world complexities. Additionally, incorporating simultaneous functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) allows for tracking mechanistic specificity, providing valuable insights into individual neural responses during treatment. Our study aims to generate essential data for large-scale grant applications, contributing to the development of more effective interventions for GAD and advancing anxiety disorder treatments. Need/Problem: Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Grant Summary: This grant proposal addresses [...]

3 05, 2024

Epigenetic mechanisms linking psychological stress with dementia risk in minoritized individuals | Zannas | $147,167

Epigenetic mechanisms linking psychological stress with dementia risk in minoritized individuals 2024 Award: $147,167 Dementia has an enormous impact worldwide and disproportionately affects minoritized populations. Such health disparities have been attributed to discrimination and other social determinants of health, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. This project examines the epigenetic mechanisms through which stress contributes to dementia risk in Black individuals. Need/Problem: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) have an enormous impact on individuals and societies, with Alzheimer’s disease alone currently afflicting ~6.7 million persons age 65 and older in the US. Importantly, ADRD disproportionately affect minoritized populations, with older Black adults having an estimated two to three times higher risk for cognitive impairment and dementia as compared to older non-Hispanic White adults. However, the mechanisms underlying this health disparity are unknown and no reliable biomarkers exist to guide [...]