Sex differences in reward neurocircuitry underlying alcohol craving and consumption in trauma-exposed individuals

项目摘要/摘要 应聘者：我的长期目标是在一所研究密集型大学获得终身教职 这是为反映美国多样性的学生服务的。我的研究将利用多模式 神经成像技术，以更好地了解神经相关性和发育关系 妇女和种族/少数民族群体中的创伤后应激障碍和酒精使用。我有一个很强的 使用结构和功能神经成像技术研究威胁相关神经回路的背景 与创伤后应激障碍的发展和维护有关。在这份申请中，我建议通过以下方式延长我的培训 了解促进饮酒的基本神经机制，以及创伤暴露可能如何有助于 女性的神经脆弱性，使这一群体更容易饮酒。此外，我还将建立 在我已经通过我的多样性补充奖接受的培训之外，我学习如何使用Complex 分析生态瞬时评估(EMA)数据的纵向统计模型。归根结底，这 额外的培训将使我掌握制作高影响力出版物和成功提交R01的技能。 培训：除了詹妮弗·史蒂文斯博士，我还有一个由学术研究专家组成的指导团队 世卫组织将为完成这项提案提供必要的培训和指导。朱莉·凯布尔博士是一名律师 精神病学系教授，埃默里神经发育暴露中心副主任 临床，贾斯汀·威尔士博士是精神病学系副教授兼埃默里医院院长 佐治亚州成瘾联盟的医疗成瘾服务和医学主任，以及Nicole Nugent博士 是布朗大学的副教授。在指导团队之外，我们已经确定了研讨会， 研讨会和会议，以提供进一步的技术培训、演示经验、负责任的行为 研究，以及过渡到独立的必要技能(谈判、终身教职、实验室管理)。 研究：创伤后应激障碍和酒精使用障碍(AUD)是高度共生的障碍(PTSD+AUD)。女人是 患创伤后应激障碍的可能性是男性的两倍，女性面临着更多来自酒精的有害健康影响 与男人相比。一大堆工作研究了每种障碍背后的神经机制， 分开的。然而，很少有研究研究共同发生的PTSD+AUD的神经基础，以及 没有人研究过性别差异。我的初步数据显示了纹状体的性别差异 在与奖励相关的行为中很重要。这项提案旨在界定与奖励相关的性别差异 导致创伤暴露女性酒精使用行为的神经回路。通过使用EMA和 功能神经成像技术，我预计将扩大我们对奖励方面的性别差异的理解- 在创伤暴露人群中促进酒精使用的相关神经回路。圆满完成 这一拟议的项目有可能为制定预防性干预措施提供信息，以抑制 创伤暴露妇女发生AUD的情况。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Candidate: My long-term goals are to acquire a tenure-track faculty position at a research-intensive university that serves students who reflect the diversity of the United States. My research will utilize multi-modal neuroimaging techniques to better understand the neural correlates and developmental relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use in women and racial/ethnic minority groups. I have a strong background in using structural and functional neuroimaging techniques to study the threat-related neurocircuitry related to the development and maintenance of PTSD. In this application, I propose to extend my training by first learning the basic neural mechanisms that promote alcohol use and how trauma exposure may contribute to neurological vulnerabilities in women, making this group more prone to using alcohol. Furthermore, I will build off the training I am already receiving through my Diversity Supplement award to learn how to use complex longitudinal statistical models to analyze ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data. Ultimately, this additional training will give me the skills to produce high-impact publications and successful R01 submissions. Training: In addition to Dr. Jennifer Stevens, I have a mentoring team filled with experts in academic research who will provide the necessary training and guidance to accomplish this proposal. Dr. Julie Kable is an Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Associate Director of the Emory Neurodevelopmental Exposure Clinic, Dr. Justine Welsh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Emory Healthcare Addiction Services and Medical Director of the Addiction Alliance of Georgia, and Dr. Nicole Nugent is an Associate Professor at Brown University. Outside of the mentoring team, we have identified workshops, seminars, and meetings to provide further technical training, presentation experience, responsible conduct in research, and the necessary skills (negotiations, tenure, laboratory management) to transition to independence. Research: PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly co-occurring disorders (PTSD+AUD). Women are twice as likely than men to develop PTSD, and women face more detrimental health effects from alcohol compared to men. A large body of work has examined the neural mechanisms that underlie each disorder, separately. However, very few studies have examined the neural substrates of co-occurring PTSD+AUD, and none have examined sex differences. My preliminary data shows sex differences in the striatum, a region important in reward-related behavior. This proposal aims to define sex differences in reward-related neurocircuitry that contribute to alcohol use behaviors in trauma-exposed women. By using EMA and functional neuroimaging techniques, I anticipate expanding our understanding of sex differences in reward- related neurocircuitry that promote alcohol use in trauma-exposed populations. The successful completion of this proposed project has the potential to inform the development of preventative interventions to inhibit the development of AUD in trauma-exposed women.