BLRD Research Career Scientist Award Application

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Dr. Risbrough runs a cross-species translational research program to study mechanisms of trauma disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her overall program aims to support development of novel treatments and diagnostic/prognostic tools for Veterans with PTSD and TBI. Dr. Risbrough focuses her preclinical research program on identifying mechanisms of risk and identifying potential novel treatments for PTSD using genetic, molecular and pharmacological tools in mice. She is known for her expertise in animal models of PTSD and the neurobiology of stress systems. Her current preclinical work includes identifying genetic risk markers for fear learning and extinction, identifying sleep and immune-system contributors to risk for PTSD and comorbid alcohol drinking and identifying novel treatments targeting dopamine and endocannabinoid systems to enhance fear-extinction based therapies. Her clinical research program includes identifying psychosocial, physiological and blood-based biomarkers of PTSD and TBI aimed at understanding mechanisms that impede recovery and induce functional impairment to improve intervention development. This program includes managing the San Diego VA Sleep Research Laboratory, the Psychophysiology Laboratory for the VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), longitudinal PTSD/TBI Biorepository for CESAMH as well as her continued work as a Principal Investigator for the Marine Resiliency Study, a prospective longitudinal study of OIF/OEF Marines now in its 10 year follow up collection period. Finally, she also conducts clinical studies to identify novel pharmacological treatments for PTSD. Her research program is funded by NIMH, NIAAA, Department of Defense in addition to VA BLR&D and VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health funds.