Our Research

Facilitation of Extinction Retention and Reconsolidation Blockade by IV Allopregnanolone in PTSD

NIMH 1R01MH122867-01    01/01/20-12/31/25    NIH/NIMH

The overarching aim of the proposed work is to examine the efficacy of acute IV allopregnanolone administration on fear extinction retention and reconsolidation blockade in participants with PTSD.

Overlap: There is no budgetary, commitment, or scientific overlap between this award and the pending award

Neuroactive Steroid Withdrawal and Proximal Suicide Risk: Perimenstrual Hormone Stabilization as a Mechanistic Probe

1RF1MH120843    07/01/19-06/31/2023   NIH/NIMH

The major goal of this project is to study an experimental probe and highly sensitive GC-MS measurement to examine the role of acute changes in neuroactive steroid biosynthesis (i.e., neuroactive steroid withdrawal) in proximal suicide risk.

Overlap: There is no budgetary, commitment, or scientific overlap between this award and the pending award.

PTSD-Related Neurobiological Mediators of Negative Pregnancy Outcomes

1K23HD087428-01A1   9/1/2017-7/31/2022

The goals of this project is to examine whether: 1) deficient ALLO mediates the effects of PTSD group status (PTSD vs. trauma exposed no PTSD vs. healthy) on preterm birth and increased maternal PTSD and depression during pregnancy and the postpartum, and 2) social support moderates the relationship between stress and deficient ALLO across pregnancy and the postpartum.

Overlap: There is no budgetary, commitment, or scientific overlap between this award and the pending award.

Gender differences in neurosteroid levels in patients with PTSD

VA241-15-D-0041   03/2016-07/2020   Department of Veterans Affairs   

The major goal of the project is to investigate the serum and CSF levels of neurosteroids (allopregnanolone, 5alpha DHP, and progesterone; testosterone).

Testosterone and estrogen signaling pathways in the medial amygdala interact to control energy homeostasis

NIH   09/2020-10/2025   

The overarching aim of the proposed investigation is to study the regulatory role of estrogens and androgens in energy homeostasis by activating estrogen receptor beta (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) in the medial amygdala of both female and male mice under several genetic interventions.

Cannabinoid-induced Upregulation of Neurosteroid Levels Improves Fear Responses

DOD   09/2015-02/2020   

This study investigates new PTSD biomarkers, including PPAR-alpha and endocannabinoids and their role in the regulation of dysfunctional behavior (fear, aggression, and anxiety-like depressive-like behavior) via activation of neurosteroid biosynthesis in mouse models of PTSD.