Research

9 05, 2023

Establishing the Validity of a Wearable Technology of Objective Arousal Measurements Across Development | Grzadzinski | $40,000

Establishing the Validity of a Wearable Technology of Objective Arousal Measurements Across Development 2023 Award: $40,000 Atypical sensory reactivity is reported by parents in pre-symptomatic infants that go on to develop ASD. We propose to validate a practical, wearable technology that simultaneously measures arousal in response to well-controlled stimuli and lays the foundation for future studies measuring arousal in naturalistic contexts. The results from this study have the potential to facilitate pre-symptomatic interventions and new screening options for infants at elevated likelihood for developing autism. Need/Problem: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects socialization, communication, and daily living skills. Symptoms of ASD emerge gradually over the first few years of life, though the average age of a diagnosis of ASD is older than 4 years. Prior to the first symptom emergence of ASD (e.g. decreases in [...]

9 05, 2023

Investigation of the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide on alcohol effects: relevance for the treatment of alcohol use disorder | Besheer | $70,152

Investigation of the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide on alcohol effects: relevance for the treatment of alcohol use disorder 2023 Award: $70,152 Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a devastating disease that affects many individuals and families. There is an urgent need to identify medications to help with the treatment of AUD. The goal of the present work is to determine whether semaglutide (an FDA-approved antidiabetic and weight management medication) blunts the subjective/interoceptive effects of alcohol. This is an important question as these effects have the capability to influence alcohol drinking behavior and relapse. Need/Problem: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant health and societal burden. However, there are only three FDA-approved medications for treating AUD and while these medications work well for some, they do not work for all individuals. Therefore, there is the need to identify new medications to [...]

9 05, 2023

Mechanisms of Brexanolone Therapeutics in Post-Partum Depression: Expanded follow-up study | Patterson | $100,000

Mechanisms of Brexanolone Therapeutics in Post-Partum Depression: Expanded follow-up study 2023 Award: $100,000 Brexanolone is the first FDA approved medication for postpartum depression. This medication has a different mechanism of action than typical antidepressants and we will be investigating brexanolone’s impact on the systemic inflammatory pathways. Better understanding of why brexanolone is so effective for postpartum depression may provide a better understanding of postpartum depression itself and development of more accessible therapeutics. Need/Problem: Brexanolone is recently the first FDA approved medication for postpartum depression, which happens to be the most common complication of childbirth. This medication is an exciting development in psychiatry, in that it is rapidly acting, given by IV infusion over 60 hours, and has a vastly different mechanism of action than typical antidepressants. Despite these successes, there are limitations in that it requires a multiple day [...]

9 05, 2023

Probing the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying sex-specific testosterone-mood relationships during puberty: A randomized controlled trial using a smartphone-based training program | Andersen | $45,080

Probing the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying sex-specific testosterone-mood relationships during puberty: A randomized controlled trial using a smartphone-based training program 2023 Award: $45,080 Female and male adolescents may respond differently to pubertal changes in testosterone. This study will examine whether brain activity associated with emotion regulation may link testosterone change with different symptom profiles. Further, we will test the effects of a smartphone-based training program on brain dynamics underlying emotion regulation and symptoms of depression – the first step in developing new intervention and treatment approaches for adolescent psychopathology. Need/Problem: The pubertal transition marks an abrupt divergence between the sexes in rates of depression and other internalizing disorders in female adolescents, and externalizing disorders (i.e., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) in male adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic has further widened the gender gap in adolescent mental health, with a concerning escalation in depression, [...]

11 05, 2022

Data Driven Brain Shape Analysis Framework and Explainable AI | Prieto | $66,691

Data Driven Brain Shape Analysis Framework and Explainable AI 2022 Award: $66,691 Specific shape aspects are associated with individual differences in cognitive function in children and adults as well as abnormality in many neuropsychiatric disorders. In this project, we will investigate brain shape and reveal specific characteristics for different neuropsychiatric disorders. Our approach is based on multi-view and neural network interpretability techniques. Need/Problem: The overarching goal of this proposal is to develop deep learning techniques for brain shape analysis. We need to investigate, identify, and implement better approaches that will help us make predictions about health outcomes as well as improve early diagnosis of mental health disorders. Grant Summary: Brain shape analysis has been researched extensively and we know that specific shape aspects of the White Matter (WM) are associated with individual differences in cognitive function in children and [...]

11 05, 2022

Written Exposure Therapy to Improve Recovery among Sexual Assault Survivors | McLean | $59,168

Written Exposure Therapy to Improve Recovery among Sexual Assault Survivors 2022 Award: $59,168 An estimated 683,000 US women are sexually assaulted each year, and as many as half of these women experience severe posttraumatic stress symptoms six months after assault. This project tests the feasibility and initial efficacy of a five-session mental health intervention designed to prevent severe posttraumatic stress symptoms among survivors identified as being at high risk for severe posttraumatic stress symptoms. Results from this study will inform the development of a large-scale intervention trial. Need/Problem: An estimated 683,000 women in the United States are sexually assaulted each year and 1 in 5 US women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime. As many as half of these women experience severe posttraumatic stress symptoms 6 months after assault. Currently, no interventions are provided to women sexual assault survivors to [...]

11 05, 2022

Anxiety and emotion in parent-child dyads: A multimodal study | Campbell | $92,932

Anxiety and emotion in parent-child dyads: A multimodal study 2022 Award: $92,932 Anxiety is on the rise, is associated with altered emotional processing, and can emerge in preschool, a time when children rely on parents or caregivers to process emotional and handle worry. Developing successful treatments for childhood anxiety will depend on understanding the mechanisms that underlie it and parent-child dyads. This project is an important first step to better understand and treat anxiety disorders, by measuring brain and behavioral aspects of anxiety and emotion in both parents and children. Need/Problem: Anxiety disorders (AD) can emerge in early childhood and predict later symptoms and psychopathology. Emotional processing is an important core aspect of ADs – an underlying fear, worry, or distress. In preschool children, some worry is typical as they develop brain networks to process emotional information. This development [...]

11 05, 2022

Hormone Flux and the Emergence of Irritability During Pregnancy: Investigating the Trajectory and Neurobiological Correlates of an Underrecognized Mood State | Swales | $40,000

Hormone Flux and the Emergence of Irritability During Pregnancy: Investigating the Trajectory and Neurobiological Correlates of an Underrecognized Mood State2022 Award: $40,000Irritability is common in perinatal depression, however we do not know when irritability emerges during pregnancy and the neurobiological pathways underlying symptom progression are poorly understood. In this study we will investigate how hormone changes across pregnancy relate to the onset of irritability in women at risk for perinatal depression. We will also evaluate how hormone changes relate to neural and behavioral responses to threat and frustration, key components of irritability. Investigating the emergence and neurobiological correlates of irritability in perinatal depression is a critical first step to shed led light on this often underrecognized mood state and identify potential targets for prevention and intervention efforts that support the wellbeing of women and children.Need/Problem: Irritability is common in reproductive [...]

9 05, 2022

A novel glutamatergic mechanism for the treatment of cocaine and opioid use disorders, and co-occurring anxiety | Faccidomo | $39,565

A novel glutamatergic mechanism for the treatment of cocaine and opioid use disorders, and co-occurring anxiety 2022 Award: $39,565 Substance Use has steadily risen over the past decade and COVID-19 has exacerbated these trends. More than 50% of people diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders, are also diagnosed with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. There is a need for targeted treatments to simultaneously address these co-occurring mental health conditions. This project will systematically investigate whether a novel brain protein called TARP γ-8 could be a novel target for therapeutic interventions for substance use and anxiety. Need/Problem: Despite tremendous need, effective pharmacotherapies for the treatment of Substance Use Disorders and co-occurring psychiatric conditions are lacking. Repeated drug use dysregulates key neurotransmitter systems in the brain and leads to enduring changes in strength and function of brain pathways that regulate reward and pleasure. It [...]

9 05, 2022

Network Neuroscience of a Novel Brief Intervention for Stress and Depression Symptoms in College Students | Zhang & Schwippel | $41,080

Network Neuroscience of a Novel Brief Intervention for Stress and Depression Symptoms in College Students 2022 Award: $41,080 College students constantly experience stress, which may lead to various mental health problems. Psychosocial interventions are effective treatments, while the neural mechanisms underlying their therapeutic benefits remain unclear. In this study, we will record the brain activities of the client and the therapist simultaneously during the intervention. We will examine how synchronized brain activities between the client and the therapist may help explain the therapeutic benefits of psychosocial interventions. Need/Problem: The vast majority of college students experience a high level of stress arising from academic pressure, monetary concerns, and newly gained responsibilities as young adults. Stress-related symptoms include anxiety, sleeping problems, difficulties concentrating, and a low mood. Those symptoms might persist and develop into mental disorders like depression, thus reducing the [...]