Kora DeBeck is a Distinguished Professor of Substance Use and Drug Policy in the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University, a CIHR Applied Public Health Chair, and Dorothy Killam Fellow. She is also a Research Scientist with the BC Centre on Substance Use and Principal Investigator of the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS), a longitudinal cohort tracking over 1,200 street-involved youth. Her research focuses on substance use policy, health services for marginalized populations, and the structural drivers of drug-related harms. She has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles challenging ineffective drug enforcement models and advocating for policy reforms. Recent publications analyze trends in opioid use, harm reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic, drug decriminalization, and youth-focused interventions. Her work consistently addresses social inequities through data-driven approaches to the toxic drug crisis. CIHR Applied Public Health Chair Dorothy Killam Fellow Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Award Distinguished SFU Professorship She has secured over $50 million in research funding, including $21M as principal investigator for ARYS. Her lab collaborates with healthcare providers, community organizations, and policymakers to translate research into practice.
Markus Heilig is a Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) at Linköping University. He serves as Director of the Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN), integrating basic and clinical neuroscience to address addictive and affective disorders. His work bridges neuropharmacology, molecular psychiatry, and clinical trials. Linköping University (Current) Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN) (Director) Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (Collaborator) His research focuses on alcohol dependence mechanisms, stress-neurotransmitter interactions (e.g., CRF, substance P, endocannabinoids), and personalized medicine approaches. Using animal models and human neuroimaging (fMRI), his lab explores epigenetic changes in frontal lobe and amygdala neurons that drive compulsive alcohol use. Recent publications highlight his work on endocannabinoid modulation for PTSD treatment, neural correlates of reward choices, and pharmacological interventions targeting GABA and opioid receptors. His studies often combine brain imaging, behavioral analysis, and pharmacology. Scientific awards include the 2019 Wallenberg Clinical Scholar grant and 2017 CAN/Nordic Drugs prizes. Heilig's research is supported by Vetenskapsrådet (SEK 57 million center funding) and international donations like the Andrew J. Bock Memorial Fund.
Dr. Rodolfo J. Flores serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology within the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). His primary research investigates neuromodulator function in the prefrontal cortex, with emphasis on acetylcholine and dynorphin systems during motivational conflict, stress responses, and addiction pathways. He employs advanced optogenetic and biosensor technologies to dissect neural circuitry underlying psychiatric conditions. Dr. Flores earned his Ph.D. in Social Cognitive and Neuroscience from UTEP in 2019, followed by postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). His work bridges molecular neuroscience with behavioral outcomes, focusing on how stress and substance exposure alter prefrontal cortical function. His research portfolio demonstrates consistent high-impact publication in top neuroscience journals including Nature Neuroscience , Neuron , and Psychoneuroendocrinology . Current work examines opioid neuropeptide dynamics, nicotine-alcohol interactions, and sex-specific hormonal influences on addiction behaviors. Methodologically, he specializes in genetically encoded biosensors and circuit-level manipulations to study threat processing and reward pathways. Dr. Flores teaches graduate and undergraduate courses including PSYC 4341 (Motivation & Emotion), thesis/dissertation supervision (PSYC 5395/6395), and research applications courses. His lab actively trains students through undergraduate research (RSRC 4033) and independent study opportunities (PSYC 4352).
Edward H. Hagen is a Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Washington State University, Vancouver. He holds a BA in Mathematics from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from UC Santa Barbara (1999). His postdoctoral work was at Humboldt University, Berlin, under Peter Hammerstein. Since 2007, he has been at WSU, leading the Bioanthropology Lab. His research integrates evolutionary approaches to medicine, focusing on substance use, mental health, child development, and leadership evolution. Key themes include evolutionary medicine, signaling theory in depression/suicidality, and the role of pharmacological plant use in human evolution. He has conducted fieldwork in the Central African Republic, Ecuador, and India. Hagen's work spans theoretical models (e.g., depression as bargaining signals) and empirical studies (e.g., tobacco use and helminth infection in hunter-gatherers). He has secured over $387,000 in grants, including NSF funding for projects on leadership, child signals of need, and smoking behavior. His lab explores topics like music's evolutionary roots (credible signaling hypothesis) and predator deterrence. He is active in academic discourse, critiquing popular theories like Dunbar's social bonding hypothesis for music evolution. His publications span evolutionary psychology, anthropology, and medical journals, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.
Karestan C. Koenen is Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and an Associate Member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard . She also serves as Affiliated Faculty at the Harvard University Center for the Environment , advising students in Epidemiology and Social Behavioral Sciences. BA in Economics, Wellesley College MA in Developmental Psychology, Columbia University PhD in Clinical Psychology, Boston University Post-doctoral Fellowship in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Columbia University Dr. Koenen's research focuses on three areas: (1) understanding PTSD resilience, (2) trauma's long-term physical health impacts, and (3) expanding access to evidence-based mental health treatments. Her work bridges genetics, global mental health, and trauma epidemiology, with recent studies on epigenetic aging, cognitive outcomes after trauma, and substance use comorbidities. Her 2025 publications span psychiatric genetics, trauma neurobiology, and women's health, emphasizing machine learning, neuroimaging, and population-level interventions. Current projects include the Broad Trauma Initiative and NIMH-funded training programs. 2025 Junior Faculty Mentoring Award 2021 Pamela Sklar Innovation Award 2017 Distinguished Alumnae Award 2015 Robert S. Laufer Memorial Award Dr. Koenen actively trains graduate students through the Trauma Epidemiology and Population Mental Health Research Group . She integrates advocacy into her work, having testified before Congress and consulted on documentaries about trauma, while publishing in outlets like the Boston Globe and Psychology Today . Her lab collaborates on mental health policy and global trauma research.
Leah Doane is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University (ASU) since 2025. She holds affiliations with the Biodesign Center for Personalized Diagnostics and previously served as Associate Dean of Graduate Initiatives in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (2024). Her academic background includes a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University (2002), M.A. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University (2006/2008), and a postdoc at the University of Chicago in Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience. Research focuses on developmental psychopathology, examining links between health behaviors, physiological stress (e.g., cortisol), and stressful experiences across childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood—with particular emphasis on Latinx youth and college transition challenges. Key themes include cultural adaptation, sleep health, epigenetic influences, and bicultural stress. Funded by NIH, CDC, and Army Research Institute, her work integrates ecological and ambulatory assessment methods. Leadership roles include Director of Faculty Success, Developmental Graduate Training Area Head, and Deputy Chair in ASU's Psychology Department. Awards include William T. Grant Foundation Scholar (2025-). Active in teaching advanced courses on research methods and thesis supervision, she mentors students through courses like Honors Thesis (PSY 493), Research (PSY 792), and Dissertation (PSY 799). Key grants include studies on Latino youth college pathways (Helios Education Foundation, 2015-2016), genetic/environmental influences on sleep and behavior (NICHD, 2015-2020), and culturally informed interventions. The Adolescent Stress and Emotion Lab (adolescentstressandemotionlab.org) serves as her research hub.
Noelia Fernández Castillo is a Lecturer at the University of Barcelona's Faculty of Biology, affiliated with the Department of Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics. She leads the Human Molecular Genetics research group and holds roles in academia spanning education and research. Education: Bachelor's/Master's in Genetics (University of Barcelona, 2004) Experimental Biology Master's (2006) Teaching Certification (2005) PhD in Biology (2011) Research focuses on genetic mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders, addiction, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Key areas include epigenetic influences on ADHD, genetic contributions to aggression, and molecular pathways in substance use disorders. Uses animal models (zebrafish, mice) and human genomic data to explore these topics. Notable projects include studying nutrition's impact on impulsive behaviors (Eat2beNICE project, 2017-2022) and investigating shared genetic susceptibility between addictions and aggression. Current work emphasizes genetic pleiotropy in ADHD and psychiatric comorbidity. Has led/co-led grants from the European Union, Spanish Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Science. Active in collaborative research with institutions across Europe and North America.
Kristen Pleil is an Associate Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in the Graduate School of Medical Sciences, affiliated with the Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience. She serves as Co-director of the NIGMS-sponsored Training in Pharmacological Sciences (TIPS) predoctoral T32 program. Academic Appointments: Assistant Professor (2016), Associate Professor (2021) Education: BA in Psychology (Emory University, 2005), PhD in Neuroscience (Duke University, 2010), Postdoc at University of North Carolina School of Medicine Research Focus: The Pleil lab investigates how sex and stress hormones regulate alcohol/substance use, stress responsivity, and affective behavior through neuropeptidergic brain circuits and hormone-neuropeptide signaling. Key projects include estrogen's role in alcohol drinking and anxiety, opioid receptor signaling in reward/aversion learning, and sex-dependent thalamic control of stress responses. The lab uses in vivo and ex vivo mouse models to study synaptic/epigenetic plasticity across developmental stages. Publications Trends: Her work spans molecular pharmacology, neurophysiology, and addiction research with a focus on sex differences in neuropsychiatric diseases. Articles cover topics like estrogen signaling in binge drinking, opioid-context memory, thalamic circuits in stress response, and optogenetic tools for receptor imaging. Scientific Awards: President’s Young Investigator Award, ISBRA (2013) Elizabeth Young New Investigator Award, OSSD (2015) K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, NIAAA (2015) Kellen Foundation Junior Faculty Fellowship (2016) NARSAD Young Investigator Award (2017) Early Career Investigator Award, NIDA-NIAAA (2017) Training and Collaborations: As Co-director of the TIPS T32 program, she mentors graduate students in pharmacological sciences. Her collaborations include researchers at UNC, Duke, and Weill Cornell, with grants from NIAAA, NIMH, and NIGMS.
Professor Ahmad Hariri is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University, part of the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. He holds affiliations with the Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, and the Duke Initiative for Science & Society. His research integrates neuroimaging, pharmacology, and molecular genetics to study biological pathways underlying individual differences in behavior and psychopathology risk. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA (2000), M.S. and B.S. in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park (1997, 1994). Research interests include understanding how genetic and environmental factors influence brain function and behavior, with a focus on psychopathology, stress, and resilience. His work explores neural correlates of traits like psychopathy, childhood adversity effects on brain structure, and biomarkers of aging. Recent studies highlight links between lead exposure and neurodegeneration, neighborhood disadvantage and dementia risk, and the role of brain connectivity in self-regulation. Key achievements include over 200 publications, including high-impact papers in Nature Aging , Neuron , and Biological Psychiatry . Honors include the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution (2009) and being named a Highly Cited Researcher (2014). Grants include leadership roles in the Duke-NCCU Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric Conditions and the Duke Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Program. He has contributed to editorial boards of journals like Cortex and Biology of Mood and Anxiety Disorders . Professional activities include mentoring in the Summer Neuroscience Program and serving as a Bass Connections Faculty Team Leader.
Professor Walter C. Prozialeck is a distinguished academic at Midwestern University, serving in the Department of Pharmacology across multiple schools including the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM), College of Pharmacy, College of Dental Medicine-Illinois, and College of Graduate Studies - Illinois. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Thomas Jefferson University (1978) and a B.S. from Juniata College (1974). Dr. Prozialeck's research spans 35 years of cadmium toxicology, focusing on mechanisms of nephrotoxicity, microRNA expression, and biomarker development. He also investigates vancomycin pharmacokinetics and herbal medications like kratom and marijuana, contributing to drug policy discussions. His work has secured over $3.0 million in NIH funding. Recent publications highlight his expertise in cadmium-induced kidney injury biomarkers (e.g., Kim-1, cystatin C), microRNA alterations, and vascular toxicity. He has authored over 100 papers and book chapters. Career Achievement Award, Metals Specialty Section of Society of Toxicology (2021) Dr. Prozialeck teaches Pharmacology to medical, pharmacy, optometry, dental, and allied health students, and lectures in CME programs. He has held leadership roles including President of the Great Lakes Chapter of ASPET and Midwest Regional Chapter of the Society of Toxicology.
Jessica A. Mong, PhD , is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine , where she also serves as Assistant Dean for Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies and Director of Graduate Education for the Program in Neuroscience. Her research focuses on the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying sex differences in sleep circuitry and the estrogenic modulation of sleep-wake cycles. Primary Appointment: Pharmacology & Physiology Administrative Title: Assistant Dean for Graduate & Post-Doctoral Studies Laboratory Director: Program in Neuroscience Research Interests: Dr. Mong's work investigates how ovarian steroids influence sleep-wake behavior through sexually differentiated neuroanatomical substrates. Key areas include: Mechanisms of estrogenic modulation in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPN) Developmental programming of sex differences in sleep sensitivity Translational studies using rodent and nonhuman primate models of menopause Functional significance of hormonal influences on sleep quality and recovery Scientific Trends: Her recent publications (2023-2025) emphasize: Role of KCNMA1 channelopathy in sleep regulation Adenosinergic signaling in MnPN Translational menopause models Estrogen's protective effects against noise-induced hearing loss Sex-dependent responses to kynurenine pathway challenges Awards & Appointments: NIH BIRCWH Scholar (Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health) Co-Chair, Society for Women’s Health Research Interdisciplinary Research Network on Sex-Differences in Sleep Health NIH/NHLBI R01 HL129138 grant recipient Education & Training: B.S., Biology, Gettysburg College (1987-1991) Ph.D., Neuropharmacology, University of Maryland Baltimore (1994-2000) NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in Endocrinology, Rockefeller University (2000-2003)
Bao-Zhu Yang is a Researcher at Yale School of Medicine , specializing in the Department of Psychiatry . With a PhD from University at Albany (2001), his work focuses on genetic mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders. Positions: Research Scientist in Psychiatry Labs: Gelernter Lab, Division of Human Genetics His research explores gene-environment interactions , admixture mapping , and comorbid substance use-depression using linkage/association methods. Supported by NIH K01 funding, he investigates genetic bases for conditions including childhood depression , alcoholism , and PTSD . Recent publications highlight: Microbiome studies in methamphetamine use disorder (2023-2025) Genetic polymorphism analyses in NGF and GABAergic pathways (2020-2024) Network approaches to nicotine-alcohol comorbidity (2019) Epigenetic research on child maltreatment effects (2020) Scientific Recognition: Young Investigator Award (2011) from NARSAD Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Active grant support includes NIH K01 career development award for gene-mapping in comorbid disorders. Collaborates with leading researchers including Joel Gelernter and Hongyu Zhao across 30+ joint publications. His work spans 15+ years with recent focus on integrative -omics approaches to addiction psychiatry. Based at 300 George St, New Haven, CT , Yang's laboratory work involves genetic epidemiology , transcriptomic integration , and neurogenetic mapping of substance use disorders.
Dorret I. Boomsma is a Full Professor of Biological Psychology at the Free University of Amsterdam and the Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, where she has served as Head of Department since 1998. She has built a substantial research group of over 40 people, largely funded through competitive grants and awards received over the past two decades. Her educational background includes a BA in Psychology (cum laude, 1979), MA in Psychophysiology (cum laude, 1983), and a PhD in Quantitative Genetics (cum laude, 1992), all from the Free University of Amsterdam. She also earned an MA in Biological Psychology and Behavior Genetics from the University of Colorado. Professor Boomsma's research focuses on the genetic and biological basis of individual differences in normal and abnormal behavior, health, and cognition. Her work explores etiological pathways to complex behavioral and neuropsychiatric traits and common diseases, with particular emphasis on twin studies and large-scale longitudinal genetic-epidemiological research through the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR). She has made significant contributions to understanding the genetics of twinning and has conducted extensive genetic linkage, association, and expression studies through the NTR Biobank project. Her publication record reflects a strong focus on genetic epidemiology, with numerous high-impact papers in prestigious journals. Her work spans diverse areas including ADHD, migraine genetics, brain development, smoking behavior, and the genetic architecture of complex traits. She has published over 730 papers with more than 19,000 citations, demonstrating the significant impact of her research in the field of behavioral genetics. Her scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: Spinoza Premium (2002) - the highest scientific award in the Netherlands ERC Advanced Grant (2008) Hendrik Muller Award (2009) from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences KNAW Merian Prize (2011) NARSAD established investigator award (2011) James Shield Award (2002) from the International Society for the Study of Twins Membership in the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW) (2001) Professor Boomsma has demonstrated exceptional ability in securing research funding, which has allowed her to grow her research team from 12 members in 1998 to over 40 members by 2009. Her group attracts outstanding PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and professional colleagues. She is also committed to public outreach, ensuring that the results of her scientific work reach beyond academic circles. She directs the Netherlands Twin Register Biobank, a significant resource for genetic epidemiological studies that has enabled numerous genome-wide association studies and other genetic research. Her work with the NTR has established it as one of the world's leading twin registries.
Eilis Hannon is an Associate Professor in Bioinformatics at the University of Exeter Medical School and leads the Complex Disease Epigenetics Group. She holds a prestigious 5-year EPSRC Research Software Engineering Fellowship and serves as Assistant Director for Education in the Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, driving initiatives in reproducible research and data science education. Education: BSc in Mathematics, Cardiff University (2010) PhD in Bioinformatics, Cardiff University Centre for Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences (2014) Her research integrates statistical genetics, epigenomics, and bioinformatics to investigate molecular mechanisms in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases. She develops novel computational methods for analyzing DNA methylation dynamics across the lifespan and cell-type-specific epigenetic changes in brain disorders, with strong emphasis on open science and reproducible research practices. Recent publications demonstrate her leadership in multi-omics integration, particularly in cell-type-specific epigenetic epidemiology, biomarker development for neurological conditions, and methodological advances in long-read sequencing. Her work spans psychiatric disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and ALS, consistently linking genetic risk variants to functional epigenetic consequences through innovative analytical frameworks. Scientific Awards: EPSRC Research Software Engineering Fellowship NARSAD Young Investigator Award Alan Turing Pilot Project award Alzheimer's Society PhD studentship Software Sustainability Institute fellowship Alan Turing Institute Skills Policy Award As an educator, she directs the Coding for Reproducible Research training programme and mentors over 20 PhD students. She has secured substantial funding from MRC, NIA, ARUK, and the Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation, serving as PI on the EPSRC Fellowship and co-applicant on multiple international grants. Her leadership extends to the MRC GW4 Biomed DTP and the MSc module Statistics for Health and Life Sciences. She co-leads the Exeter Brain Health Analytics network within the NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre and the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations in neurogenetics and computational biology.
Matthew McGue is a **Regents Professor** in the Department of Psychology at the **University of Minnesota**, with a guest professor position at the **University of Southern Denmark's Department of Epidemiology**. He specializes in **behavioral genetics**, focusing on **substance use disorders** and **aging processes**. His research leverages long-term studies like the **Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS)** and **Danish Studies on Aging**. **Educational Background**: Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota (1981). **Research Interests**: Behavioral genetics, individual differences, quantitative psychology, aging, and substance abuse. He investigates genetic contributions to substance use disorders, aging mechanisms, and the interplay between genes and environment in human traits. **Publications**: Over 150 articles on topics like cannabis use effects, personality genetics, and twin studies. Recent work examines recreational cannabis legalization impacts and genetic influences on educational achievement. **Awards/Grants**: Not explicitly listed in provided texts. **Labs/Teams**: Co-director of the **Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research**. Collaborates internationally on aging studies in Denmark.
