Estimating BrAC/BAC from Transdermal Alcohol: Combining First-Principles Physiological Models with Machine-Learning to Create Software to Optimally Process and Quantitatively Interpret Biosensor Data

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This Diversity Supplement award for predoctoral candidate Kyla-Rose Walden under the primary mentorship of Professor Susan Luczak aims to both advance the objectives of the parent R01 AA026238 grant “Estimating BrAC/BAC from Transdermal Alcohol: Combining First-Principles Physiological Models with Machine Learning to Create Software to Optimally Process and Quantitatively Interpret Biosensor Data (PIs Luczak & Rosen)” and to support the research training and career advancement of Ms. Walden in her first 20 months in the University of Southern California clinical sciences psychology doctoral program in the Department of Psychology. The goal of the R01 parent study is to produce software to convert transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) data into estimates of breath and blood alcohol concentrations (eBrAC/eBAC). Devices are now available to reliably measure TAC, the amount of alcohol diffusing through the skin, but an often overlooked yet critical issue for making these biosensors valuable is that TAC does not consistently correlate with the easily interpretable measures of BrAC/BAC across individuals, environmental conditions, and devices. The anticipated result of this R01 study is the development of the first tool to accomplish the TAC-eBrAC conversion, finally making it possible to obtain interpretable quantitative measurement of naturalistic alcohol consumption in the field. This Supplement will focus on aspects of Aims 2 and 3 of the parent R01, specifically Aim 2b: to examine alternative options for calibrating the models developed by the mathematics team, and Aim 3: to package the models into the BrAC Estimator software program that can be used by non-mathematicians. During the time of this Supplement award, we will collect data on 40 participants who will each participate in a field trial and two laboratory drinking sessions. We also will have 20 researchers and clinicians run our software to process field trial data to determine the ease of its use in research and clinical settings. Ms. Walden will assist with these data collection efforts. In addition, she will receive broader training a) in alcohol theory and real-time (laboratory and field) alcohol research design from mentor/PI Luczak, b) in the basics of mathematical modeling approaches, data integration/consolidation, and MATLAB coding basics from MPI Rosen and Co-I Wang, and c) from Co-Is and research staff on the parent R01 in their given areas of expertise, and d) in preparing first-author manuscripts and presenting her research at conferences. She will use the data she has helped collect to develop her independent research in her first and second years of graduate school. This research is not redundant with the originally proposed outcomes of this R01 study, yet is within the study’s scope. We will extend this master’s level research into her dissertation in her third and fourth years of graduate training as part of an F31 award application. This supplement is appropriate for Ms. Walden’s stage of research development and will contribute intellectually to the R01 research, enhance Ms. Walden’s research skills and knowledge, and provide opportunities for her career development to become a productive researcher who makes substantial and meaningful contributions to the field of alcohol research.