Congratulations to ATA members with the following active grants.
External Federally Funded Grants: R01s/U Awards
Principal Investigators: Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, and Dorian Lamis, PhD
Co-Investigators: Bekh Bradley, PhD, Sarah E. Dunn, PhD, Sheryl Heron, MD, MPH
Grant Title: ACES and Suicidal Behavior in African Americans: Assessment and Prevention
Funding Source – Center for Disease Control – R49
Description: This study is designed to advance the field of suicide prevention among African American women by (1) identifying risk and protective factors that influence the ACEs/suicide relationship, and by (2) rigorously testing a culturally competent, multilevel suicide prevention intervention targeting African American women who have previously attempted suicide.
Co Investigators: Jennifer Stevens, PhD, Negar Fani, PhD
Project Title: Integrative brain network based analysis for heterogeneous and multimodal neuroimaging data
Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health, R01 MH120299
Study Description: This study involves the development of Bayesian methods for integrative multimodal neuroimaging analysis, with a focus on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Principal Investigators: Abby Lott, PhD (Site PI) and Keisha Holden, PhD (PI)
Co-Investigators:
Grant Title: Building Behavioral Goal Directed Resilience Among African American Women (Project GRIT)
Funding Source – National Institute of Mental Health – MPI R01 within the U54
Building Biobehavioral Goal Directed Resilience Among African American Women (Project GRIT)
Description: This study, a collaboration between Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine, will examine the effects of a resilience building intervention on PTSD and physiology women with civilian trauma.
Principal Investigators: Abigail Powers Lott, PhD (PI) and Maneesha Agrawal, MD (PI)
Co-Investigators: *
Grant Title: Addressing ACEs among Hispanic Caregivers in a Pediatric Primary Care Population to Improve Child Health and Decrease Early Adversity
Funding Source – Center for Disease Control – R49
Description: This study will examine the initial feasibility structured maternal ACEs screening and provider-led ACEs discussion within pediatric primary care clinic well child visits in the first 2 years of life and the effects of such a screening on improving child outcomes and decreasing early adversity.
Co-Investigator: Jennifer Stevens, PhD
Project Title: Statistical Methods for Analyzing Complex, Multi-Dimensional Data from Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Mental Health Studies
Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health, R01 MH118771
Study Description: This research involves the development of new statistical techniques for the parsimonious analysis of complex longitudinal datasets involving neuroimaging, psychophysiological, and clinical data, from the Grady Trauma Project.
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Stevens, PhD (PI)
Co Investigators: Vasiliki Michopoulos, PhD, Kim Wallen, PhD, Andrea Joyner, MD, Ann Schwartz, MD, Sanne van Rooij, PhD
Project Title: Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Risk for Trauma Related Psychopathology in Women
Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health, R01 MH117009-01A1
Project Description: This study will investigate biological risk pathways for PTSD and depression in trauma- exposed women, focusing on the role of cyclical fluctuations in estradiol (E2).
Principal Investigator: Vas Michopoulos, PhD
Co Investigators: Tanja Jovanovic, PhD, Abby Lott, PhD, Alicia Smith, PhD, and Andrea Joyner, PhD
Project Title: The Effects of Pregnancy on Post-Traumatic Symptoms and Fear Physiology in traumatize African American Women
Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health – R01
Project Description: The study will examine changes in hormones, physiology, and PTSD symptoms across pregnancy in African American women with lifetime trauma exposure.
External and Internally Federally Funded Grants: K Awards
Principal Investigator: Abigail Powers Lott, PHD
Mentors: Nadine J Kaslow, PhD (Primary); Bekh Bradley, PhD, Tanja Jovanovic, PhD, and Nicole Nugent, PhD (Secondary)
Project Title: Primary-Care Based Mindfulness Intervention for Chronically Traumatized Individuals
Funding Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine – K23
Project Description: This mentored research study will test the feasibility of a group mindfulness intervention with chronically traumatized individuals with comorbid PTSD and depression symptoms in a primary care setting of an urban hospital. Potential mechanisms of change in the intervention, including emotion dysregulation and autonomic function, will also be examined.
External Grants: Private Foundations
Principal Investigator: Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD
Co-Investigator: Sarah E. Dunn, PhD
Grant Title: Disseminating the Nia Project to Young, African American Women with Mental Health Problems in Homeless Shelters
Funding Source: Hope and Grace Fund
Description: The aims of this proposal are to develop a training manual, train homeless shelter personnel in the Nia Project model, supervise homeless shelter personnel in the implementation of the Nia Project model, and evaluate the effectiveness of the model with homeless women when implemented by staff in the community.
Principal Investigator: Dorian A Lamis, PhD
Mentors: Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD (Primary), Elisabeth Binder, MD, PhD
Grant Title: The Roles of Childhood Abuse and Epigenetic Factors in Suicidal Behavior among Low-Income African Americans Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
Funding Source: Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, NARSAD Young Investigator Award
Description: The purpose of this study is to examine the roles of childhood abuse and epigenetic factors in suicidal behaviors among low income African Americans diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD).
Principal Investigator: Sanne van Rooij, PhD
Mentors: Tanja Jovanovic, PhD and Jon Willie, MD, PhD
Grant Title: Effects of Amygdala Ablation on Biomarkers of PTSD: A New Treatment Avenue?
Funding Source: Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, NARSAD Young Investigator Award
Description: The proposed study aims to prospectively assess the effect of amygdala ablation on PTSD symptoms, and on neuroimaging and psychophysiological biomarkers of PTSD in epilepsy patients undergoing amygdala ablation.
Internal Grants
Principal Investigators: Sierra Carter, PhD and Shannon Self-Brown, PhD
Grant Title: Exploring Synergies Between Parent Life Experiences and Positive Parenting: A Feasibility Study of SafeCare with Mothers Who Have Experienced Prior Trauma
Funding Source: Center for Research on Interpersonal Violence at Georgia State University
Description: The primary aims of this mixed-methods pilot project is to examine the feasibility and initial outcomes of highly traumatized mothers who participate in SafeCare, a research-based parenting program.
Principal Investigator: Sarah E. Dunn, PhD
Co-Investigators: Abby Lott, PhD, Tracey Henry, MD, Alison Pickover, PhD
Mentor: Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD
Grant Title: Examining Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Factors in the Context of a Group-format Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Related to Intimate Partner Violence
Funding Source: Emory Medical Care Foundation
Description: The purpose of this pilot study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that compares a group-format Cognitive Trauma Therapy for Battered Women (CTT-BW) to treatment as usual (TAU) in women exposed to intimate partner violence, in decreasing symptoms of PTSD, improving intrapersonal processes related to feelings about oneself, and enhancing interpersonal processes.
Principal Investigator: Negar Fani, PhD
Co-Investigators: Nadine Kaslow, PhD, Bekh Bradley, PhD, Greg Siegle, PhD
Title: Vibroacoustically-augmented Mindfulness for Dissociative Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Funding Source: Emory University Research Council
Description: The goal of this study is to test whether a trial of vibroacoustically-augmented breath-focused mindfulness produces greater increases in attentional control and greater reductions in dissociation and trauma-related symptoms, including PTSD, suicidality and depression, as compared to non-augmented breath-focused mindfulness.
Principal Investigator: Negar Fani, PhD
Mentor: Nadine Kaslow, PhD
Title: Physiologically-augmented Mindfulness for Dissociative Traumatized Individuals
Funding Source: Emory Medical Care Foundation Award
Description: The goal of this study is to examine whether physiologically-augmented breath-focused mindfulness produces greater reductions in dissociation PTSD symptoms and greater increases in mindfulness, and interoceptive ability, as compared to non-augmented breath-focused mindfulness.
Principal Investigator: Lauren Hudak, MD, MPH
Co-Investigators: Marion (Emmy) Betz MD, MPH; Matthew Miller, MD, MPH, Tim Moran, PhD; ScD; Megan L. Ranney MD, MPH; Carmel Salhi, ScD
Mentor: Jonathan Rupp, PhD; Sheryl Heron, MD, MPH; David Wright, MD
Grant Title: The Grady ED Firearm Survey: Patient Perspectives, Risk Assessment, and Targeted Intervention to Pioneer Local Firearm Injury Prevention Research
Funding Source: Emory Medical Care Foundation
Description: The purpose of this two-phased research project is to understand baseline access and perceived barriers to screening and intervening for patients who are high risk for firearm injury in the healthcare setting and gather pilot data for a novel screening and intervention strategy through randomized-controlled design for patients identified as high risk for firearm injury.
Principal Investigator: Andrea Joyner, MD
Co-Investigators: Abby Lott, PhD; Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD
Mentor: Nadine Kaslow, PhD and Lisa Haddad, MD
Grant Title: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training for High-Risk African American Pregnant Women: Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementation in Prenatal Clinics
Funding Source: Emory Medical Care Foundation
Desciprtion: The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week DBT-emotion regulation skills group with pregnant women in the Grady Gyn-OB clinic.
Principal Investigator: Ashima Lal, MD
Co-Principal Investigator(s): Jordan Cattie, PhD; Lucy J. Allbaugh, PhD
Mentor: Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD
Grant title: Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for High-Needs Populations: Feasibility and Acceptability of Dissemination in Public Sector Settings
Description: This randomized clinical trial will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a gentle yoga practice (relative to treatment as usual) in a diverse population of low-income individuals who have experienced interpersonal violence and will collect psychophysiological and qualitative data to understand how individuals self-identify the role or value of these practices in their treatment and everyday lives.
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Stevens, PhD
Grant Title: Pilot Investigation of Neuroendocrine Risk Mechanisms for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Women
Funding Source: Emory University Research Council /Georgia Clinical and Translational Research Alliance
Description: This pilot study will measure the associations between trauma exposure and female hormones that vary over the menstrual cycle in African-American women.