Neurobiological signs of resilience and recovery from substance abuse in youth who faced childhood adversity
Official title: Neurobiological Correlates of Susceptibility, Resilience, and Recovery to Substance Abuse in Participants with Childhood Maltreatment
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11458394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study will explore brain patterns in young people who faced childhood adversity to understand why some stay resilient and avoid substance problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $981,978 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA065290-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11458394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young adults who have experienced childhood adversity and are at risk for or have begun substance use.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without a history of childhood adversity or substance use may not directly benefit from the study findings.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced brain imaging to compare youths with similar childhood adversity but different substance use outcomes. It will apply diffusion tensor imaging and connectome analysis to identify brain network features linked to resilience. By following a large, multi-site cohort and using trajectories of substance use, the study aims to pinpoint brain patterns that help some youths stay on a healthier path. The findings could inform prevention and early intervention strategies tailored to adolescents and young adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights from this work could guide personalized prevention and early intervention for youths at risk of substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed that certain brain network features differentiate resilient from susceptible individuals, and this study extends those findings in a large adolescent cohort.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Teicher, Martin H — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Teicher, Martin H
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.