Committees

Executive Committee

Sara J Nixon

Sara J Nixon Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor & Co-Vice Chair
Department: MD-PSYCHIATRY

Dr. Nixon is a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, Chief of Addiction Research, Director of the Biobehavioral Core of the University of Florida Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and Director of the Neurocognitive Laboratory in the UF Department of Psychiatry. She is an experienced clinical researcher in the area of substance abuse and dependence.

Because of the complex nature of substance abuse, her work uses comprehensive behavioral assessments including neuropsychological testing, brain electrophysiology (electroencephalography and event-related potentials), and clinical research interviews. This work has provided many opportunities for Dr. Nixon to provide training to graduate students and post-doctoral associates.

In addition to neurobehavioral research, Dr. Nixon has sustained a strong interest in community outreach and education. During her tenure in Oklahoma, she was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Oscar A. Parsons Summer Institute which engaged experts from across the country in the provision of education and training programs for community service providers and she was a key component (with Dr. Deborah Jones-Saumty) in the American Indian Research Group of Oklahoma which fostered substance-related research initiatives among the non-reservation residing tribes in the state. Following the Oklahoma City Bombing (1995), she diverted a portion of her efforts to another concern; the psychiatric impact of the tragedy on the community and emergency responders. Her continued commitment to community outreach is reflected in her on-going work focusing on the cognitive, psychological and social concomitants of substance use and her participation in a variety of workshops, seminars, committees and councils.

 

Dr. Nixon has authored over 110 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters as well as edited two books. She has made over 200 scientific presentations and held grants and awards from a variety of private, state and national sources including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and more. She is completing her tenure as the Immediate Past President of the Research Society on Alcoholism. Within the American Psychological Association, Dr. Nixon is a Fellow in both Divisions 28 (Substance Use and Psychopharmacology) and 50 (Addiction) of the American Psychological Association. She served as the Member-at-large for Division 50 from 2006-2009.

Accomplishments:
  • Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service to APA Division 50
    2019 · Society of Addiction Psychology
  • Henri Begleiter Excellence in Research Award
    2018 · Research Society on Alcoholism
  • University of Florida Term Professorship
    2017-2020 · University of Florida
  • Exemplary Teacher Award
    2017 · University of Florida, College of Medicine
  • University of Florida Research Foundation Professor
    2015-2017 · University of Florida
  • Fellow
    2007 · American Psychological Association
  • Seixas Outstanding Service Award
    2006 · Research Society on Alcoholism
  • Fellow
    2006 · American Psychological Association (Division 50)
  • Arnold and Bess Ungerman Endowed Chair
    2001-2003 · Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • Biological Psychology Graduate Student Classroom Teaching Award
    2001-2002 · University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • Gordon H. Deckert Award for Sustained Excellence in Departmental Educational Endeavors
    2000 · Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • Provost’s Award for Outstanding Research (Senior Faculty)
    1999 · University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • Provost's Research Award for Junior Faculty
    1991 · University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Research Summary:

Dr. Nixon uses neurobehavioral methods and models to examine the acute and chronic effects of alcohol and other drugs. Within her clinical research, her team also explores sex differences, the effects of age, and the import of ethnic/racial minority status.

Because of the complex nature of substance abuse, Dr. Nixon’s work uses comprehensive behavioral assessments including neuropsychological testing, brain electrophysiology (electroencephalography and event-related potentials), and clinical research interviews. In addition to neurobehavioral research, Dr. Nixon has sustained a strong interest in community outreach and education. Her continued commitment to community outreach is reflected in her on-going work focusing on the cognitive, psychological and social concomitants of substance use.

Another study in her laboratory includes analysis of a recently completed study funded by the NIAAA exploring the acute effects of alcohol in healthy older (55-70) and younger social drinkers. Although recruitment for this study has concluded, several key issues including the analysis of sex differences and driving performance under different conditions remain to be examined.

In addition to these efforts, her team is involved in the conduct of a pilot study designed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an FDA approved medication on cognition and abstinence in small group of men and women seeking treatment for alcohol use disorders. In the near future, we anticipate initiating a Phase 2 trial that will examine the impact of a new compound on smoking cessation efforts in a sample of healthy current smokers.

Publications:
Grants:
  • Jan 2023 ACTIVE
    Environmental Approaches to Prevention – Transitions and alcohol use in the later lifespan: Environmental and Individual-level influences
    PACIFIC INST FOR RESEARCH & EVALUATION · Principal Investigator
  • Sep 2022 ACTIVE
    The neural mechanisms of risk for alcohol use disorder among college students
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Other
  • Mar 2022 ACTIVE
    Determining the Longer-term Impact of COVID-19 Stressors, Alcohol Use and Neurobiobehavioral Decline in Older Adults Through Prospective Study
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Principal Investigator
  • Oct 2021 – May 2023
    NIH RECOVER: A Multi-site Observational Study of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pediatric Populations
    UNIV OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2020 ACTIVE
    18/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2020 – Mar 2023
    UCSD Sub – ABCD Consortium Coordinating Center – Participants
    UNIV OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2020 – Mar 2022
    ABCD Consortium Coordinating Center
    UNIV OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2020 ACTIVE
    National Drug Early Warning System Coordinating Center
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Sep 2019 – Mar 2022
    Florida Development in Early Childhood: Adversity and Drug Exposure (FL-DECADE) Study
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Project Manager
  • Jul 2019 ACTIVE
    UF Substance Abuse Training Center in Public Health
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Jul 2019 – Jun 2020
    Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis of Hair Cortisol Concentrations among Treatment-seekers with Alcohol Use Disorder: The role of Cognitive Training on Stress Systems
    RESEARCH SOCIETY ON ALCOHOLISM · Other
  • Feb 2019 – Feb 2021
    SoAP Student Research Grant
    AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSO · Principal Investigator
  • Nov 2018 – Mar 2020
    Peripheral Correlates of Cognitive Training
    UF FOUNDATION · Principal Investigator
  • Sep 2018 ACTIVE
    Enhancing Recovery Outcomes in Alcohol Use Disorder: Cognitive Training as an Adjunct to Treatment
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Other
  • Aug 2018 ACTIVE
    Characterizing the effects of family history of alcoholism on alcohol analgesia
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Co-Investigator
  • Aug 2018 – May 2019
    ABCD-USA Consortium: Coordinating Center
    UNIV OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO · Principal Investigator
  • Jun 2018 – Apr 2020
    ABCD-USA Consortium: Research Project
    UNIV OF MICHIGAN · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2017 – Mar 2020
    Sex Differences, Cognitive Training & Emotion Processing: A pilot study of Treatment-Seeking Men and Women with Alcohol Use Disorder
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2016 – Jul 2019
    Testing a Smartphone Breathalyzer and BAC Estimator in Young Adult Heavy Drinkers
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Co-Investigator
  • Sep 2015 – Apr 2020
    9/13 ABCD-USA Consortium: Research Project
    UNIV OF MICHIGAN · Principal Investigator
  • Aug 2015 – Jul 2018
    Effects of GTS-21 on smoking behavior and neurocognitive function
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Mar 2015 – Apr 2020
    Texas External Quality Review Organization Vendor and Quality Vendor
    STATE OF TEXAS HLTH HUMAN SERV COM · Project Manager
  • Sep 2013 – Aug 2018
    Neurobehavioral & emotional deficits in male & female alcoholics
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2007 – Aug 2016
    Clinical and Translational Science Institute
    UF RESEARCH FOU · Project Manager
Patents:
  • Issued November 2016
    Quantitative Measure of Home Functionality in Children with Mitochondrial Diseases
    #TXu 1-988-486
  • Issued January 2016
    Therapies to Improve Smoking Cessation in Neuropsychiatric and Depressed Patients
    #9,233,109
Joanna Peris

Joanna Peris Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department: Pharmacodynamics

The Peris lab is currently studying the neurochemical mechanisms of ethanol addiction. As part of this research, we measure how dopaminergic and amino acid neurotransmission in brain reward circuitry (e.g., nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area) is altered in rodents exhibiting high degrees of ethanol self-administration. We have developed the “jello shot” method of ethanol self-administration with Dr. Neil Rowland of the Department of Psychology. This model results in pharmacologically relevant levels of ethanol intake in non-genetically-selected rodents, but also controls for non-ethanol reward, caloric consumption and comparable levels of operant responding by the use of non-ethanol gelatin as a control reinforcer. Utilizing a combination of behavioral and microdialysis techniques, we have demonstrated that previous binge ethanol exposures selectively increase ethanol intake, ethanol reward and glutamate levels in nucleus accumbens while not affecting plain gel intake or neurotransmission during plain gel reward. Another novel finding indicates the importance of elevations in glycine in the nucleus accumbens during anticipation of reward.

Our most recent work, in collaboration with Dr. Eric G. Krause in our department, has focused on the role of oxytocin in the regulation of reward circuitry and its impact on ethanol intake. We have found that oxytocin receptors are expressed by both dopamine and glutamate neurons in the ventral tegmental area which might mediate oxytocin inhibition of ethanol intake. We are currently developing optogenetic techniques to address how selective activation of neurons in reward centers that express oxytocin receptors is altered by excessive ethanol intake.

Publications:
Grants:
  • Aug 2022 ACTIVE
    Deregulation of Sleep/Wake Homeostasis by Binge Alcohol Use Following Traumatic Brain Injury
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Co-Investigator
  • Jul 2018 – Jun 2020
    Ethanol dysregulation of oxytocin-mediated reward
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2015 – Jul 2016
    Oxytocin Receptors in Alcoholism
    UF FOUNDATION · Principal Investigator
Education:
  • 1984
    Ph.D.
    Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Medicine
  • 1982
    M.S.
    Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Medicine
  • 1980
    B.S.
    Bowling Green State University
Marieta B Heaton

Marieta B Heaton

Professor
Department: Department of Neuroscience
Publications:
Grants:
  • Sep 2017 – Aug 2021
    Critical Mechanisms Underlying THC Neurotoxicity in Developing CNS
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Aug 2016 – Jul 2018
    Mechanisms of Choline Mitigation of Ethanol Toxicity in Developing CNS
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Principal Investigator
Jeff Boissoneault

Jeff Boissoneault Ph.D.

Associate Professor And Co-Director, Center For Pain Research And Behavioral Health
Department: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology
Accomplishments:
  • Early Career Investigator Award
    2022 · Research Society on Alcoholism
  • Provost's Excellence Award for Assistant Professors
    2021 · Office of the Provost – University of Florida
  • Dean's Citation Paper Award
    2020 · College of Public Health and Health Professions – University of Florida
  • Dean’s Citation Paper Award
    2018 · College of Public Health and Health Professions – University of Florida
  • Most Outstanding Research Award
    2017 · Department of Medicine – University of Florida
  • Most Outstanding Research Award
    2016 · Department of Medicine – University of Florida
  • Building Bridges Award
    2015 · National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
  • Young Investigator Travel Award
    2013 · Research Society on Alcoholism
  • Student Merit Travel Award
    2008-2012 · Research Society on Alcoholism
  • Grinter Fellowship
    2007-2008 · University of Florida College of Medicine
Research Summary:

Dr. Boissoneault’s research focuses on the application of behavioral, psychophysiological, and neuroimaging approaches to the study of a) pain and related constructs (e.g., fatigue); b) alcohol and substance use; and c) their interaction. For instance, he is interested in improving understanding of how pain may influence alcohol effects and use behavior, as well as how alcohol use affects pain processing. He also has a strong interest in mechanisms underlying placebo efficacy, pain-related decision making, and the acute and chronic neurobehavioral effects of alcohol use.

Publications:
Grants:
  • Apr 2022 ACTIVE
    CTOA
    UNIV OF FLORIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Mar 2022 ACTIVE
    Determining the Longer-term Impact of COVID-19 Stressors, Alcohol Use and Neurobiobehavioral Decline in Older Adults Through Prospective Study
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Co-Investigator
  • May 2021 – Jun 2022
    Impact of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness on Demand for Alcohol and Marijuana among Co-Users
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Other
  • Jul 2020 – Jun 2022
    Impact of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness on Demand for Alcohol and Marijuana among Co-Users
    RESEARCH SOCIETY ON ALCOHOLISM · Other
  • May 2020 ACTIVE
    Mechanisms and Modification of Pain Modulatory Capacity
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAMS · Co-Investigator
  • Jul 2019 ACTIVE
    OoR Matching Support for CTSI
    UF DIV OF SPONSORED RES MATCHING FUNDS · Project Manager
  • May 2019 – Apr 2022
    Acute Effects of Alcohol Use on Chronic Orofacial Pain
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Principal Investigator
  • Aug 2018 ACTIVE
    Characterizing the effects of family history of alcoholism on alcohol analgesia
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAAA · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2017 ACTIVE
    Brain Imaging and Pain: Analysis of Placebo Analgesia
    NATL CTR FOR COMPLEM AND INTEGRATIVE HLT · Co-Investigator
Education:
  • 2012
    Ph.D. (Medical Sciences)
    University of Florida
  • 2007
    B.A. (Biology)
    New College of Florida
Barry Setlow

Barry Setlow Ph.D.

Professor
Department: MD-PSYCHIATRY

Barry Setlow received his PhD in 1998 from the University of California, Irvine, where he worked with Jim McGaugh on amygdala-striatal systems involved in consolidation of different forms of learning and memory. He went on to post-doctoral training with Michela Gallagher at Johns Hopkins University, where he continued work on the role of amygdala-striatal systems in different forms of learning, using both behavioral and single-unit electrophysiological recording techniques. From there he moved to a position as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, where his research focussed on the effects of both acute and chronic exposure to drugs of abuse on cognition, with a particular focus on decision-making. Dr. Setlow joined the Department of Psychiatry in 2010, where he is continuing his research on interactions between drug abuse and decision-making, as well as collaborating with other UF investigators on animal models of age-related cognitive decline.

Accomplishments:
  • UF Research Foundation Professorship
    2018-2021 · University of Florida
  • Fellow
    2017-Current · University of California, Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
  • UF Term Professorship
    2017-2020 · University of Florida
  • Exemplary Teacher
    2016 · University of Florida, College of Medicine
  • Faculty of Neuroscience Leadership and Service Award
    2010 · Texas A&M University
  • Young Investigator Travel Award
    2008 · American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
  • J. L. McGaugh Award for Excellence in Graduate Research
    1998 · Department of Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine
  • Ralph Waldo Gerard Prize in the History of Neuroscience
    1996 · University of California, Irvine
Research Summary:

Research Interests:

– behavioral, pharmacological, and neural basis of decision-making

– acute and chronic effects of drugs of abuse (stimulants, cannabinoids, opioids) on cognition and motivation

– neural mechanisms of age-related cognitive decline

Publications:
Grants:
  • Apr 2023 ACTIVE
    Cholinergic Mechanisms in Lewy Body Dementia
    NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS · Co-Investigator
  • Mar 2023 ACTIVE
    Role of cortical catecholamines in regulating motivated behavior and striatal dopamine
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIMH · Co-Investigator
  • Sep 2022 ACTIVE
    Mechanisms and blood-based biomarkers of intergenerational neurobehavioral effects of general anesthetics
    NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD · Co-Investigator
  • Feb 2022 ACTIVE
    Role of Dopamine receptor-expressing cortical projection circuits in cognitive flexibility
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIMH · Co-Investigator
  • Sep 2021 ACTIVE
    Preclinical Assays of Hippocampal-Prefrontal Cortical?Circuit Engagement for Application in Therapeutic Development
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIMH · Co-Investigator
  • Aug 2021 ACTIVE
    Effects of cannabis on age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimers disease pathology
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIA · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2021 – Jul 2021
    Optogenetic Modulation of Mesocorticolimbic Brain Networks as a Treatment for Parkinsons Disease Cognitive Dysfunction
    AMER ACAD OF NEUROLOGY · Other
  • May 2021 – Feb 2023
    Effects of cannabis on Alzheimers disease-related pathology and cognitive decline
    FL DEPT OF HLTH ED ETHEL MOORE ALZHEIMER · Principal Investigator
  • May 2021 ACTIVE
    Cognitive and Affective Network Dysfunction and Neuromodulation in Aging and Synucleinopathy
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIA · Other
  • May 2021 ACTIVE
    Mechanisms and therapeutic potential of vagus nerve stimulation in aging and Alzheimers disease
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIA · Principal Investigator
  • Sep 2020 ACTIVE
    Opioid and cannabinoid interactions in pain and reward
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Sep 2020 ACTIVE
    Identifying patterns of human polysubstance use to guide development of rodent models
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Sep 2020 – Aug 2022
    Mechanisms of neurodevelopmental effects of parental exposure to commonly used general anesthetic agents
    NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD · Co-Investigator
  • Jan 2020 – Jun 2021
    Modulation of Synuclein Pathology Through Induction of Gamma Band Oscillations in a Mouse Model of DLB
    UF FOUNDATION · Other
  • Jul 2019 – Jun 2022
    Novel neuromodulation of motivated and addictive behaviors
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Jun 2019 – May 2022
    Opioid and cannabinoid interactions in pain and reward
    UF RESEARCH · Co-Investigator
  • Jun 2019 – May 2021
    DRPD-ROF2019: A Microfluidics Optrode: A Next Generation Approach to Brain Network Modulation in Parkinsons Disease
    UF RESEARCH · Principal Investigator
  • Sep 2018 – Aug 2020
    Identifying patterns of human polysubstance use to guidedevelopment of rodent models
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Sep 2018 ACTIVE
    Decision making and basolateral amygdala dysfunction in aging
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIA · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2018 – Aug 2020
    Hippocampal and dopaminergic?mechanisms of novelty detection underlying cognitive resilience in aging
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIA · Other
  • Sep 2017 – Aug 2021
    Critical Mechanisms Underlying THC Neurotoxicity in Developing CNS
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • May 2017 – Jul 2019
    Neural circuits and mechanisms underlying maladaptive risk-taking following cocaine self-administration
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Other
  • Jan 2017 – Mar 2021
    Cognitive Augmentation through Neuroplasticity (CAN)
    US DEPT OF DEFENSE DARPA · Co-Investigator
  • Jun 2016 – May 2018
    Dissecting interneuron function in addiction using optogenetics
    UF DSR OPPORTUNITY FUND · Principal Investigator
  • Sep 2015 – Aug 2020
    Role of the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (LHPA) axis and gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR)-mediated excitation in the developmental central and systemic effects of neonatal anesthesia.
    NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS · Project Manager
  • Jul 2015 – Jun 2018
    Lasting behavioral and neuroimaging consequences of adolescent exposure to cannabis smoke
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2015 – Jan 2021
    Risk taking and cocaine use: interactions, mechanisms, and therapeutic targets
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2015 – Mar 2018
    Imaging In Vivo Neural Mechanisms of Synthetic Cathinones (Bath Salts)
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Mar 2015 – Feb 2017
    Risk-taking and the nucleus accumbens: neural circultry and the impact of cocaine
    UF FOUNDATION · Principal Investigator
  • Feb 2015 – Mar 2019
    Development of a rat model of cannabis smoke self-administration
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Principal Investigator
  • May 2014 – Mar 2020
    Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive Decline in Aging
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIA · Project Manager
Education:
  • 1998-2002
    Fellowship: Psychological and Brain Sciences
    Johns Hopkins University
  • 1998
    PhD, Biological Sciences
    University of California, Irvine
  • 1994
    BA, Psychology
    Yale University
Catherine L Striley

Catherine L Striley PhD, MSW, MPE

Associate Professor
Department: Department of Epidemiology

Catherine Woodstock Striley, PhD, MSW, ACSW, MPE, conducts community-engaged research that aims to increase health equity among community members by going where people are, building relationships, being trustworthy and building partnerships. As Deputy Director of UF’s HealthStreet community engagement program, and in partnership with many community organizations and groups, Dr. Striley studies both the health conditions and concerns of people in the community and tests the effectiveness of community health worker (CHW) interventions to reduce barriers to care through providing screenings, linkages to care, services and research, and to provide prevention services health education and disease management. Dr. Striley is currently funded for HealthStreet’s Expanding Research and Recruitment by Engaging Adults through Community Health Workers (eREACH) research project with Benten Technologies, to support Community Health Workers (CHWs) in the process of screening and referral to health services through microlearning education for minority older adult community members, a virtual agent named “Reggie”, and text messaging of appointment reminders. She is a coinvestigator on $8+ million dollars of CDC- and NIH- funded research and $144 million dollars in federal funding through the Department of Health (L.B. Cottler, PI for all), all of which involve community-engagement. She also serves as the evaluator for Translational Workforce Development of the UF/FSU Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Dr. Striley is also the Co-Chair of the Community Coalition of Older adults in North Central Florida. She is the Director of the Psychiatric Epidemiology Program in the Department of Epidemiology where she is an Associate Professor. Dr. Striley serves as a Faculty Senator, is on the Senate Steering Committee and Budget Council for the University. She teaches Psychiatric Epidemiology and Ethics in Population Health (College of Public Health and Health Professions) and Population Health (College of Medicine), as well as mentoring undergraduate, pre- and post-doctoral students/trainees. She received a Master of Social Work in 1989 and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis in 2002, where she was a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) predoctoral fellow. The National Institute on Drug Addiction (R03) funded her dissertation research. She completed the Master of Science in Epidemiology at Washington University School of Medicine in 2004 and completed a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in Epidemiology and Biostatistics funded by NIH in the Department of Psychiatry in 2005. She was a faculty member in that department from 2005 to June of 2011.

Accomplishments:
  • PHHP Doctoral Mentor of the Year
    2019 · University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions
Certifications:
  • Academy of Certified Social Workers
    National Association of Social Workers
Research Summary:

As a psychiatric epidemiologist, Dr. Striley conducts community-engaged research that aims to increase community members’ recognition of need for health screening, mental health and behavioral health services and to decrease barriers to those services. She has extensive training and experience in community engaged research, including recruitment and retention of diverse community members, and in drug use, abuse and misuse epidemiology. Dr. Striley is one of the few researchers who conducts research in caffeine and energy drink misuse. She is also researching the epidemiology of movement disorders including Tourette Disorder, Dystonia and Essential Tremor.

Publications:
Grants:
  • Apr 2023 ACTIVE
    The heterogeneity of hoarding behavior: characterizing disorder diversity to distinguish etiology and longitudinal symptom course
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIMH · Other
  • Sep 2022 ACTIVE
    eREACH – Expanding Research and Recruitment by Adults thought Community Health Workers
    BENTEN TECHNOLOGIES · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2022 ACTIVE
    All of Us Consortium of CTSA Community Engagement Programs
    NATL INST OF HLTH OD · Co-Investigator
  • Jul 2021 ACTIVE
    CDC-RFA-IP21-2113
    CTRS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION · Co-Investigator
  • Aug 2020 ACTIVE
    Training Promotoras/Community Health Workers using Culturally and Linguistically-Appropriate Research Best Practices
    UNIV OF MICHIGAN · Co-Investigator
  • Apr 2020 ACTIVE
    National Drug Early Warning System Coordinating Center
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Apr 2019 – Apr 2020
    Tremor Reports Among College Undergraduate Students (TRAC-US)
    HOPENET · Principal Investigator
  • Sep 2018 – Aug 2020
    Identifying patterns of human polysubstance use to guidedevelopment of rodent models
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Co-Investigator
  • Jul 2018 ACTIVE
    ABCD – Social Development Study
    UNIV OF PITTSBURGH · Co-Investigator
  • Mar 2018 – Feb 2021
    Precision Public Health Approaches to Reduce Disparities in Memory Disorder Screening in Rural Minority Communities
    FL DEPT OF HLTH ED ETHEL MOORE ALZHEIMER · Co-Investigator
  • Aug 2017 – Mar 2023
    Health outcomes and cognitive effects of marijuana use among persons living with HIV/AIDS
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Project Manager
  • Feb 2016 – Feb 2019
    Prevalence of TD and tics among a community-recruited sample of adults from Haiti
    TOURETTE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA · Principal Investigator
  • Feb 2016 – Jan 2018
    Diseases related to alzheimer's disease, 2015-2016
    FL DEPT OF HLTH ED ETHEL MOORE ALZHEIMER · Project Manager
  • Aug 2015 – May 2021
    University of Florida – Mt. Sinai Medical Center AD Research Center
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIA · Co-Investigator
  • Feb 2014 – Oct 2018
    Preventing Hospital Readmissions through CHWs
    UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2011 – May 2017
    Transformative Approach To Reduce Research Disparities Towards Drug Abusers
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA · Project Manager
  • Jul 2007 – Aug 2016
    Clinical and Translational Science Institute
    UF RESEARCH FOU · Project Manager
Education:
  • 2004
    Master of Psychiatric Epidemiology
    Washington University School of Medicine
  • 2002
    Doctor of Philosophy/Social Work
    Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 1989
    Master of Social Work
    Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis

Internal/Community Advisory Committee:

Scientific Members:

Mildred Maldonado-Molina, Ph.D., M.S.; Professor and Chair; UF Department of Health Education & Behavior
Mildred Maldonado-Molina, Ph.D., M.S.; Professor and Chair; UF Department of Health Education & Behavior
Regina Bussing

Regina Bussing M.D., M.S.H.S.

Professor And Chief
Department: MD-PSYCHIATRY

Dr. Bussing holds the position of Professor and Chief of Faculty Development in the Department of Psychiatry at UF.

Dr. Bussing received her medical degree from the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany. She subsequently completed her psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville, as well as a Master of Science degree in health services research from the UCLA School of Public Health.

Dr. Bussing’s research expertise spans mental health services, measure development, pharmaco-epidemiology, psychotherapy intervention, and clinical pharmacology trials research. As NIMH-funded investigator studying, she led studies assessing access and quality of care for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Bussing also conducted a double-blind randomized, controlled trial to assess antidepressant medication related activation phenomena in youth with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). She was the co-investigator of an NIH funded randomized clinical trial assessing preschoolers’ response to a non-medication intervention for ADHD, Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Furthermore, she collaborated on several other pivotal NIH funded children’s mental health services studies and served as principal investigator on multiple pediatric clinical psychopharmacology trials for ADHD, depression, PTSD, panic disorder and Tourette syndrome. More recently, Dr. Bussing collaborated as clinical lead on measure development for the CMS inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF) quality program, including an IPF-specific readmission measure.

Dr. Bussing has served as reviewer and chair for multiple NIH and CDC study sections and on advisory boards for several organizations, including Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), PCIT International and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Accomplishments:
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
    2022 · College of Medicine, University of Florida
  • Equity and Inclusivity Hero
    2022 · Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida
  • UF College of Medicine Term Professor
    2018-2021 · University of Florida
  • Donald R. Dizney Chair in Psychiatry
    2016-Current · University of Florida
  • Labeled Praise Award for significant and sustained contributions to the advancement of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
    2015 · PCIT International
  • Distinguished Fellow
    2012 · American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Faculty Enhancement Opportunity Award
    2012 · University of Florida
  • Distinguished Fellow
    2011 · American Psychiatric Association
  • Distinguished Fellow
    2011 · Florida Psychiatric Society
  • Elaine Schlosser Lewis Award for research on attention-deficit disorder – best 2010 paper published (second author)
    2010 · Journal of the AACAP
  • Elaine Schlosser Lewis Award for research on attention-deficit disorder – best paper published (first author)
    1997 · Journal of the AACAP
Certifications:
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
    American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
  • Psychiatry
    American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Specialties:
  • Psychiatry
Subspecialties:
  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Clinical Interests:
  • Adolescent depression
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
  • Child neglect and emotional abuse
  • Depression
  • Discussing death with children
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Hyperactivity and children
  • Major depression
  • Reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood
  • Separation anxiety in children
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Stress in childhood
  • Suicide and suicidal behavior
Publications:
Grants:
  • Jan 2023 ACTIVE
    DCF Medication Consult Helpline 2023
    FL DEPT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES · Principal Investigator
  • Oct 2018 ACTIVE
    Florida and Virgin Islands Deaf-Blind Cooperative
    US DEPT OF EDUCATION · Principal Investigator
  • Jan 2018 – Dec 2022
    DCF Medication Consult Helpline
    FL DEPT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2017 – Apr 2018
    VA-Gainesville IPA for Drake Morgan – Dr. Wang, PI
    US DEPT OF VET AFF GAINESVILLE MED CTR · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2017 – Apr 2018
    VA-Gainesville IPA for Zhihui Yang – Dr. Wang, PI
    US DEPT OF VET AFF GAINESVILLE MED CTR · Project Manager
  • Apr 2017 – Apr 2019
    VA-Gainesville IPA for Fan Lin -Dr. Wang, PI
    US DEPT OF VET AFF GAINESVILLE MED CTR · Project Manager
  • Sep 2016 – Sep 2020
    The Child Health Quality (CHeQ) Partnership Program
    AGCY HEALTHCARE RES AND QUALITY · Co-Investigator
  • Jan 2016 – Dec 2017
    DCF Medication Consult Helpline
    FL DEPT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES · Principal Investigator
  • Oct 2013 – Sep 2019
    Florida and Virgin Islands Deaf-Blind Cooperative
    US DEPT OF EDUCATION · Principal Investigator
  • Aug 2012 – Mar 2016
    A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Fixed-dose Once-daily Oral Aripiprazole in Children and Adolescents with Tourettes Disorder
    OTSUKA AMERICA PHARMACEUTICAL · Principal Investigator
  • May 2012 – May 2017
    SPRITES: SERTRALINE PEDIATRIC REGISTRY FOR THE EVALUATION OF SAFETY
    DUKE UNIVERSITY CLINICAL RES INST · Principal Investigator
  • Jun 2011 – Jun 2017
    A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Fixed-dose Once-weekly Oral Aripiprazole in Children and Adolescents with Tourettes Disorder
    LABCORP DRUG DEVELOPMENT · Principal Investigator
Education:
  • 1989
    Fellowship – Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
    University of Florida
  • 1987
    Residency – Psychiatry
    University of Florida
  • 1981
    Medical Degree
    Justin-Liebig-Universitat
Maureen Keller-Wood

Maureen Keller-Wood Ph.D.

Professor And Interim Chair Of Pharmacodynamics
Department: College of Pharmacy Dean's Office

Maureen Keller-Wood, Ph.D., is a professor and interim chair of the department of pharmacodynamics. She formerly served the UF College of Pharmacy as the associate dean for research and graduate education from 2015-2023. Dr. Keller-Wood’s overall research interest is the physiologic adaptations to pregnancy and effects of maternal physiology on fetal maturation and growth. Her current research focuses on understanding the mechanism for increased stillbirth and neonatal mortality in pregnancies complicated by maternal hypercortisolemia and altered maternal and fetal glucose metabolism. She received her Ph.D. in endocrinology from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1982 and her Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Vassar College in 1977.

Accomplishments:
  • Liley Lectureship
    2017 · Perinatal Research Society
  • CV Professorship
    2013-current · University of Florida, College of Pharmacy
  • UFRF Professorship
    2012-2015 · University of Florida
  • UFRF Professorship
    2000-2003 · University of Florida
Research Summary:

Dr. Keller-Wood’s overall research interest is the physiologic adaptations to pregnancy and effects of maternal physiology on fetal maturation and growth. Her areas of current interest are:

The laboratory has a long standing interest in the effects of the adrenal hormone cortisol. Secretion of cortisol is increased in pregnancy, and this hormone mediates important adaptive physiologic effects necessary for regulating blood glucose, blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte excretion, appetite, and mood. The research team is interested in the role of the normal increase in cortisol and its action in both the mother and in the fetus, as well as the adverse effects that occur when there are excess increases in maternal cortisol in pregnancy, as occurs with maternal stress.

A major current focus of the laboratory is the adverse effects of maternal cortisol on fetal and neonatal cardiac health and metabolism. Excess maternal cortisol secretion in late gestation is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. Researchers are using a combination of techniques to determine the effects of cortisol on fetal cardiac maturation and on function during labor and delivery. These include in vivo techniques such as telemetry to continuously monitor fetal ECG and arterial pressure during labor and delivery, transcriptomic methods to determine altered expression of genes as a result of pre-term cortisol exposure, biochemical techniques to assess mitochondrial function, and metabolomic techniques to assess shifts in metabolism. These studies include collaborations with Drs. Matthew Merritt, Jennifer Co-Vu, and Stephanie Wohlgemuth at UF, as well as Dr. Art Edison at UGa. In collaboration with Dr. Peter Stacpoole, the research is also testing the efficacy of treatment with dicholoracetate in ameliorating adverse events during labor and delivery.

Her research team recently has collaborated with Drs. Charles Wood, Eric Triplett and Kelly RIce to examine the effects of maternal stress on the maternal microbiome, and effects of altered maternal bacterial populations on fetal and neonatal health.

She has also collaborated with Dr. Kirk Conrad and others on a grant to investigate the cardiorenal adaptions to pregnancy in women who become pregnant through assisted reproductive technologies (ART). ART has been associated with increases in maternal cardiorenal disease and in the incidence of small for gestation infants. She served as PI of the analytic core for this P01 which performed analysis of plasma, serum and urine to determine endocrine, electrolyte and other endpoints.

Publications:
Grants:
  • May 2019 ACTIVE
    Biocultural investigation of maternal adversity on gene expression and DNA methylation in the placenta
    NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD · Co-Investigator
  • Apr 2017 – Mar 2020
    Therapeutic use of dichloroacetate in treatment of perinatal mitochondrial deficiency and cardiac dysfunction
    NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD · Principal Investigator
  • Dec 2016 – Nov 2022
    Effects of maternal cortisol on perinatal cardiac metabolism and function
    NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD · Principal Investigator
  • Feb 2016 – Jan 2019
    Modeling the Fetal Microbiome
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIAID · Co-Investigator
  • Jul 2014 – Dec 2016
    Increases in Maternal Cortisol Alter the Metabolism and Function of the Fetal Heart at Term
    AMER HEART ASSOCIATION · Principal Investigator
  • Aug 2011 – Feb 2020
    Corpus Luteal Contribution to Maternal Pregnancy Physiology and Outcomes in ART
    NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD · Project Manager
  • Jul 2011 – Jun 2017
    Glucocorticoids, Stress and Blood Pressure Regulation
    NATL INST OF HLTH · Project Manager
  • Dec 2008 – Dec 2015
    Effects of Maternal Cortisol on Fetal and Neonatal Growth and Metabolism.
    NATL INST OF HLTH NICHD · Principal Investigator
Education:
  • 1983-1985
    postdoctoral scholar, Physiology
    University of Florida
  • 1983
    postdoctoral scholar, Physiology
    University of California, San Francisco
  • 1977-1982
    Ph.D. Endocrinology
    University of California, San Francisco
  • 1973-1977
    A.B. Biochemistry
    Vassar College

 Community Members:

Carson Pennypacker, LCSW; HUD-VASH Social Worker
Carson Pennypacker, LCSW
HUD-VASH Social Worker
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System
Leanetta McNealy
Leanetta McNealy, Ph.D. (Bio)
School Board Member
Alachua County Public Schools

External Advisory Committee:

Howard Becker
Howard Becker, Ph.D. (bio)
Director, Charleston Alcohol Research Center
Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Medical University of South Carolina
Kathleen Grant
Kathleen A. Grant, Ph.D. (bio)
Professor & Chief, Division of Neuroscience
Oregon National Primate Research Center
Oregon Health & Science University
Stephanie O'Malley
Stephanie O’Malley, Ph.D. (bio)
Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Division of Substance Abuse Research in Psychiatry
Deputy Chair, Clinical Research
Yale School of Medicine

Committee Chairs:

Annual Symposium Committee: Barry Setlow, Ph.D. & Ben Lewis, Ph.D. (Co-Chairs)

Travel Awards Committee: Marieta Heaton, Ph.D. & Catherine Striley , Ph.D., MSW, ACSW, MPE (Co-Chairs)

Seminar Committee: Marcelo Febo, Ph.D. & Nichole Scaglione, Ph.D. (Co-Chairs)

Social Events Committee: Brandon Warren, Ph.D. & Jeff Boissoneault, Ph.D. (Co-Chairs)