# Identifying the Effects of Race-Related Stressors on Laboratory- Induced Stress and Craving among African Americans with Alcohol Use Disorder

> **NIH NIH K23** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2024 · $192,518

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The primary aim of the proposed K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award is to
provide the candidate (Dr. Delisa Brown) the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to
become an independent investigator focused on alcohol use disorder (AUD) and health disparities. Race-related
stress (RRS) is common among African Americans (AA) in the U.S. and is associated with increased risk of
developing AUD. Research suggests that salient cultural factors, such as positive racial identity, may help
mitigate the negative effects of RRS. However, little research has focused on RRS and AUD, and culturally
sensitive, evidence-based treatments for AUD among AA populations are lacking. Given the dearth of scientific
information available on the effects of RRS among AA individuals with AUD, the proposed study will employ a
well-controlled human laboratory paradigm to identify the subjective (craving, stress), physiological (heart rate,
galvanic skin conductance), and neuroendocrine (cortisol) reactivity to personalized imagery cues (i.e., RRS,
alcohol, and neutral) among AA individuals (N = 60) with AUD. The relationship between racial identity and
reactivity to RRS cues will be examined to further inform the science in this highly understudied area, and support
the future development of culturally sensitive treatments for AA and other minoritized populations with AUD.
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) will be used to obtain real-time information on alcohol craving, affect,
and drinking patterns following exposure to RRS. The data obtained from this project will provide new knowledge
and insights to inform our understanding of the link between RRS and AUD in ways not previously possible. The
candidate has assembled a mentorship team of experienced and nationally renowned investigators with a history
of collaboration who bring expertise in AUD, health disparities, human laboratory paradigms, EMA, clinical trials,
and treatment development. On-site mentors and consultants include Drs. Sudie Back, Colleen Halliday, and
Erin McClure at MUSC. Off-site mentors and consultants include Dr. Kathleen Burlew at the University of
Cincinnati and Dr. Rajita Sinha at Yale University. The proposed project will provide the mentorship, formal
coursework, hands-on data collection, and career development opportunities needed to ensure the candidate
achieves the following career goals: 1) enhance knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology of AUD among
African Americans experiencing RRS, 2) develop new skills to inform cultural adaptions of treatments for AUD,
3) increase competence in conducting alcohol research with racial/ethnic minorities, 4) obtain new training in
EMA methods and data analysis, and 5) increase scholarly productivity through manuscript writing, conference
presentations, and grant writing. This project aligns closely with NIAAA’s Minority Health and Health Disparities
Initiative to eliminate healt...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10871883
- **Project number:** 5K23AA030354-02
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Delisa Brown
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $192,518
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10871883

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10871883, Identifying the Effects of Race-Related Stressors on Laboratory- Induced Stress and Craving among African Americans with Alcohol Use Disorder (5K23AA030354-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10871883. Licensed CC0.

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