# TRANSFER Neural Underpinnings of Emotion Regulation and Drinking to Cope among Problem Alcohol Drinkers

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2021 · $149,029

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development application (K23) will provide protected time for
Dr. Pilar Sanjuan to develop a focused program of experimental alcohol research and its application to the
study of neural mechanisms of emotion regulation underlying alcohol problems. The aims of the 5-year career
development plan are tightly integrated and will increase her knowledge and experience in the areas of 1)
collecting and analyzing objective neural (fMRI) and psychophysiological emotion regulation data, 2) utilizing
advanced quantitative analysis and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) technology for real-time
collection of longitudinal data in the field, and 3) grant writing and professional development. The career
development plan includes structured meetings with mentors; five graduate level courses in neuroscience,
cognitive psychology, and bioethics; and relevant conferences and workshops to develop substantive expertise
and training in quantitative/research methods and uses of statistical software. Specific plans are described to
consolidate knowledge gains associated with the career development aims through secondary analyses of
extant fMRI and EMA data sets. These activities will culminate in the development of an R01 proposal using
preliminary data from the associated study in the third and fourth years of the funding period, thus facilitating
the transition of Dr. Sanjuan from clinical psychologist to independent neuroscientist. The proposed study will
have 3 components and is sequenced to support career development aims: (1) a laboratory-based design to
identify emotion regulation and craving neural networks associated with subjective distress and
psychophysiological reactivity during emotion regulation in problem drinkers, (2) a field-based design using
EMA to determine the relationship of problem drinking with subjective distress, alcohol craving, and drinking to
cope, and (3) a lab-to-field analysis to assess the efficacy of laboratory-based neural activation to predict real
life craving and drinking to cope measured via EMA. fMRI and psychophysiological assessments will be used
to examine neural underpinnings of emotion regulation and EMA methods will be used to examine the real life
emotion regulation to drinking to cope relationship. Dr. Eric Claus will be primary mentor and has recognized
expertise in cognitive neuroscience, especially alcohol-related neuroimaging. Drs. J. Scott Tonigan and James
Gross will serve as secondary mentors supporting the candidate in selected areas including laboratory study of
emotion regulation, grant writing, human subjects protections, and data analysis. Drs. Marsha Bates and
Matthew Pearson will serve as consultants to assist Dr. Sanjuan to consolidate knowledge gains in applying
psychophysiology and EMA methods and analyses in the context of alcohol research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10452162
- **Project number:** 7K23AA025094-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Pilar M Sanjuan
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $149,029
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10452162

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10452162, TRANSFER Neural Underpinnings of Emotion Regulation and Drinking to Cope among Problem Alcohol Drinkers (7K23AA025094-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10452162. Licensed CC0.

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