Integrating Neurobiology and Neuroimaging into Research on Addiction and PTSD

 描述(由申请者提供)：K02独立科学家奖将极大地扩展我在药物滥用领域做出重要贡献的潜力，增加我对成瘾的神经生物学的知识，并使我获得神经成像和图像分析方法方面的专业知识。在过去的17年里，我的研究项目一直专注于物质使用障碍(SUD)、压力和共生的创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)，特别关注开发基于理论的、同时存在的针对SUD/PTSD的行为干预。作为一名有执照的临床心理学家，我的培训和背景使我在研究设计、组织临床和诊断访谈、进行随机对照试验、心理治疗开发和人类实验室范例方面掌握了技能。在过去的20年里，非凡的方法论进步导致了人们对成瘾和其他精神障碍的神经生物学基础的理解有了令人难以置信的增长。密歇根州立大学精神病学和神经科学系拥有一批在这一领域的研究带头人。南加州大学的神经成像专业知识也呈指数级增长，这为我提供了一个向世界知名专家学习和合作的机会。我正在进行的由NIDA赞助的R01是一项针对退伍军人中SUD和PTSD综合治疗的随机对照试验(R01 DA030143)。通过与MUSC成像小组的合作，在我的R01项目中添加了一项在治疗前后获得功能磁共振成像(FMRI)的方案，以允许检查SUD/PTSD共病的神经机制，并确定潜在的治疗靶点。然而，我缺乏神经生物学、神经成像和图像分析方法方面的正式培训，这将限制我充分发挥所收集数据的潜力。因此，K02应用程序的主要职业发展目标是：(1)获得SUD和PTSD神经生物学方面的培训，以便更好地了解神经生物学SUD/PTSD接口；(2)在神经成像和图像分析方法方面打下坚实的基础，以便将这些技能应用于分析我目前的R01的功能磁共振数据、我所在研究所的其他神经成像数据，以及未来的研究工作；以及(3)在对学术成功至关重要的领域继续专业发展，如初级科学家的指导和多学科合作。这些目标代表着我目前专业知识的合乎逻辑和协同的扩展。所提供的培训将提高目前获得资助的项目以及正在审查的项目的价值。虽然我现有的技能将使我能够实现我目前的R01的具体目标，但我需要额外的培训，以充分利用神经成像数据，并提出在药物滥用研究的前沿的新的和有意义的问题。K02奖将使我受益于正式的课程和研讨会、定向阅读、与该领域领导者的个人辅导和咨询、脑成像数据采集、磁共振成像方法(例如，功能和结构磁共振成像、BOLD信号激活)、图像分析方法以及相关数据集的监督实践经验的实践培训。总而言之，建议的K02的首要目标是促进我的多学科独立研究计划，旨在为SUD和共同发生的PTSD开发循证干预措施。该奖项将为我提供充分参与职业发展计划中概述的培训活动所需的保护时间，使我能够充分利用南加州大学校园的专业知识来增强我的技能和知识基础，以便以目前不需要额外培训的方式推进我的研究计划。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This K02 Independent Scientist Award will significantly expand my potential to make important contributions to the field of drug abuse by increasing my knowledge of the neurobiology of addictions and allowing me to obtain expertise in neuroimaging and image analysis methodology. Over the past 17 years, my program of research has focused on substance use disorders (SUD), stress, and co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a particular focus on the development of theory-based, concurrent behavioral interventions for comorbid SUD/PTSD. As a licensed clinical psychologist, my training and background has afforded me skills in research design, structured clinical and diagnostic interviews, conduct of randomized controlled trials, psychotherapy development, and human laboratory paradigms. In the last 20 years, extraordinary methodologic advances have led to incredible growth in understanding the neurobiologic underpinnings of addictions and other psychiatric disorders. The Psychiatry and Neuroscience Departments at MUSC have a constellation of faculty who have been leaders in research in this area. There has also been exponential growth in neuroimaging expertise on the MUSC campus, providing an opportunity for me to learn from and collaborate with world-renowned experts. My ongoing NIDA-sponsored R01 is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of integrated treatment for SUD and PTSD among Veterans (R01 DA030143). Through collaborations with the MUSC imaging group, a protocol to obtain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment was added to my R01 project to permit examination of neural mechanisms underlying SUD/PTSD comorbidity and identify potential targets for treatment. However, my lack of formal training in neurobiology, neuroimaging and image analysis methodology will limit my ability to realize the full potential of the data collected. Thus, the primary career development goals of this K02 application are: (1) To obtain training in the neurobiology of both SUD and PTSD in order to better understand the neurobiologic SUD/PTSD interface; (2) To gain a solid foundation in neuroimaging and image analysis methodology in order to apply these skills to the analysis of the fMRI data from my current R01, other neuroimaging data available at my institute, and future research efforts; and (3) To continue professional development in areas critical to academic success, such as, mentorship of junior scientists and multidisciplinary collaborations. These goals represent a logical and synergistic expansion of my current expertise. The training provided will enhance the value of currently funded projects as well as those that are under review. Although my existing skill set will allow me to accomplish the Specific Aims of my current R01, I need additional training to fully utilize the neuroimaging data and to ask novel and meaningful questions that are on the cutting edge of drug abuse research. The K02 award will allow me to benefit from formal coursework and workshops, directed readings, individual tutoring and consultation with leaders in the field, hands-on training in brai imaging data acquisition, MRI methodology (e.g., functional and structural MRI, BOLD signal activation), image analysis methodology, and supervised practical experience analyzing relevant datasets. In summary, the overarching goal of the proposed K02 is to further my multidisciplinary independent program of research aimed at the development of evidence-based interventions for SUD and co-occurring PTSD. This award will provide me with the protected time necessary to fully engage in the training activities outlined in the career development plan, enabling me to take full advantage of expertise on the MUSC campus to enhance my skill set and knowledge base in order to move my research program forward in ways not currently possible without additional training.