Faculty

Dr. Maes Awarded R01 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Dr. Maes Awarded R01 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Dr. Maes was awarded R01 (DA063061) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on June 30, 2025. This project, conducted with collaborators Dr. Naomi P. Friedman (University of Colorado Boulder), Dr. Pamela A. Madden (Washington University in St. Louis), and Drs. Monica Luciana and Sylia Wilson (University of Minnesota), examines vulnerability to substance use in adolescents. By integrating nationwide longitudinal samples with twin family data, the study will examine how internalizing and externalizing behaviors, reward sensitivity, ...

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Dr. Kaitlin Bountress and other MPIs awarded R34 through NIH/NIDA

Dr. Kaitlin Bountress and other MPIs awarded R34 through NIH/NIDA

Dr. Kaitlin Bountress, along with other MPIs Drs. Gretchen Neigh, Peter Hamilton, and Mathew Banks, were awarded a R34 through NIH/NIDA R34 (R34DA061267).
This project seeks to establish a multidisciplinary and functionally diverse team and generate preliminary data across-species (i.e., in rat, human data) in order to improve our understanding of behavioral biomarkers and genetic risk factors for neurocognitive behaviors related to substance use disorder risk. The ultimate goal of this line of work is to improve our ...

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VCU Researcher Awarded DOD Grant to Identify Genetic Risk Factors for Persistent Concussion Symptoms and PTSD

VCU Researcher Awarded DOD Grant to Identify Genetic Risk Factors for Persistent Concussion Symptoms and PTSD

Dr. Christina Sheerin, along with other MPIs Dr. Amstadter and Dr. Disner (University of Minnesota) were awarded a 3-year Investigator Initiated grant through the Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program of the Department of Defense (TP230074).

This project leverages a longitudinal registry study and biorepository of military service members and veterans and seeks to use novel genetic approaches to characterize the genetic architecture and functional consequences of genetic risk on persistent post concussive symptoms, PTSD, and AUD ...

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Dr. Amanda Elswick Gentry Awarded K01 From NIH NIAAA

Dr. Amanda Elswick Gentry Awarded K01 From NIH NIAAA

Dr. Amanda Elswick Gentry, Ph.D. was awarded a K01 from the NIH NIAAA (K01AA031748). A five-year professional and research development award mentored by Dr. Ken Kendler, MD, this project will investigate the interacting genetic and environmental effects contributing to alcohol use disorders with co-morbid major depressive disorder.

This research leverages ten biobank-scale data collections and includes methodological aims for the development of machine learning innovations to predict missing and unmeasured alcohol-related outcomes, as well as specific focus on ...

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VCU’s Kenneth Kendler achieves No. 1 lifetime ranking among published psychiatry scholars

VCU’s Kenneth Kendler achieves No. 1 lifetime ranking among published psychiatry scholars

Kenneth Kendler, M.D., doesn’t love attention — he says he finds it “a little embarrassing.” But as a world-renowned researcher from his pioneering studies in psychiatric genetics, the Virginia Commonwealth University professor has continued to rake in the accolades throughout his decades-long career. The latest speaks to his legacy.

Kendler has long been among the top five most-cited researchers in the field, and in September 2023, he achieved the No. 1 lifetime ranking from ScholarGPS, which analyzes researchers and their publications ...

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VIPBG Faculty Receive Funding to Study AUD and PTSD Through NIAAA R01 Grant

VIPBG Faculty Receive Funding to Study AUD and PTSD Through NIAAA R01 Grant

Drs. Ananda Amstadter (VCU) and Abigail Lott (Emory) were recently funded to study models of comorbidity between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post traumatic stress disorder (GTP) through a new NIAAA R01 (AA030549). They are joined by Co-Is from VCU (Drs. Sheerin and Bacanu), Emory (Drs. Micholopous, Ressler), SUNY (Dr. Peterson), and University of Windsor (Dr. Rappaport). AUD and PTSD commonly co-occur.

Directional models of comorbidity exist, self-medication ...

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Drs. Elizabeth Prom-Wormley and Hermine Maes Receive Funding for Their Resist! Project

Drs. Elizabeth Prom-Wormley and Hermine Maes Receive Funding for Their Resist! Project

Drs.Elizabeth Prom-Wormley and Hermine Maes recently received funding for their Resist! Project (R01 DA054313). The goal of this project is to index individual resistance to psychoactive substance use (SU) during adolescence and use the indices to identify factors influencing resistance into early middle adulthood, with a special focus on potentially modifiable factors.

We will also use a concept mapping approach to identify novel factors and a genetically-informed study design to account for genetic confounding. This project addresses ...

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Dr. Roberson-Nay Receives $275K NIMH R21 Funded Research Grant

Dr. Roberson-Nay Receives $275K NIMH R21 Funded Research Grant

Roxann Roberson-Nay, Ph.D. received a two year, $275K NIMH R21 grant for her “Quantification and Characterization of Bulk and L1CAM-Enriched Exosomal MicroRNA Cargo in Healthy Young People” research study.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound sacs that transport bioactive materials like proteins, DNA, and RNA. EVs are released from all (or nearly all) tissues into the bloodstream as a normal part of physiology. Because EVs easily cross the blood-brain-barrier, analyzing cell surface markers and biological cargo may enable researchers to ...

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Cracking the code for resilience

Cracking the code for resilience

A VCU School of Medicine researcher is exploring the genetic underpinnings of trauma responses in the hope of improving mental health care.

Given current events ranging from the ongoing pandemic to giant wildfires and powerful hurricanes, it’s not surprising that many people find their emotional reserves are depleted. Statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation show that about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, up from 1 in 10 ...

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How virtual reality may help explore the role of fear in youth at risk for violence and crime

How virtual reality may help explore the role of fear in youth at risk for violence and crime

A VCU professor has received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study conduct disorder and callous-unemotional traits using VR technology.

Conduct disorder — often characterized by aggression, theft, vandalism, violations of rules and lying — is one of the most prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disorders that emerges during childhood and adolescence.

There is a subgroup of those with conduct disorder who are more likely to engage in chronic violence and criminal behavior. These individuals display severe ...

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