Understanding how childhood trauma affects responses to rewards and threats in adolescents
Official title: Modeling and modulating neural responses to reward and threat: Associations with childhood adversity and risk for substance use problems
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11134878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different kinds of childhood trauma affect how teenagers respond to rewards and threats, with the goal of finding better ways to help young people aged 12 to 20 who have experienced trauma avoid problems like substance use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $196,560 |
| NIH project number | 1K23DA060996-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have a history of childhood trauma and are at risk for substance use problems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of childhood trauma or are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different types of childhood trauma influence the brain's responses to rewards and threats in adolescents aged 12 to 20. By using advanced techniques in affective neuroscience and predictive modeling, the study aims to identify personalized approaches for preventing substance use disorders in youth who have experienced trauma. The research will explore how experiences of neglect or abuse affect emotional and behavioral responses, which could lead to tailored interventions for at-risk adolescents. Participants may undergo assessments that evaluate their neural responses and emotional health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective prevention strategies for substance use disorders in adolescents who have experienced childhood trauma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using neuroscience to understand the impacts of childhood trauma on behavior, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccurry, Katherine — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Mccurry, Katherine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
-
Co-treated care for substance use and heart infection at UVMMC
A hospital-based project aims to improve how doctors and teams treat people with both substance use disorder and infective endocarditis during their hospital stay.
-
Preventing Suicide Among Teens Who Use Substances in School Settings
Aims to see if how schools respond to substance-use incidents (like alcohol or drugs) can lower suicide risk among high‑risk students.
-
People and Place: How geography affects HIV care and substance use in Los Angeles
Aims to understand how where you live in LA affects HIV care and substance use, and to adapt a proven intervention to help PLWH who use substances connect with better care.
-
A crowdsourced, survivor-led approach to boost HIV/STI/HCV testing and overdose-prevention service use for sex trafficking survivors in NYC
A NYC-based study tests a survivor-driven digital messaging approach and at-home tests to help sex trafficking survivors increase HIV/STI/HCV testing and use overdose-prevention resources.
-
Transforming prison care for HIV, HIV risk, and substance use disorders
A patient-friendly look at improving HIV care and prevention for people in state prisons, especially where substance use is common.
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.