# Neural, genetic, and environmental indicators of treatment outcomes for adolescent substance use

> **NIH NIH K23** · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $173,504

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 This K23 proposal integrates research and training to characterize how genetic, neural, and environmental
risk factors impact treatment outcomes for adolescents using substances and engaged in related externalizing
behaviors. While substance problems and associated externalizing behaviors (i.e., violence, delinquency) have
a significant negative impact on health and development, empirically-supported treatments are time- and
resource-intensive, placing a high burden on youth and families engaged in treatment as well as the therapists
providing these services. Using knowledge from neuroimaging and psychiatric genetics can inform
personalized clinical practice, ultimately improving the precision and potency of treatment for these youth. The
training in advanced network neuroscience methods, advanced quantitative and statistical genetic methods,
and clinical and translational research, complement the research aims, which examine how neural and genetic
risk markers, identified from a large sample of adolescents, can be evaluated as targets and moderators of
treatment outcomes for youth with substance problems. The candidate will work towards this goal through the
completion of a research project with three parts. The first aim focuses on using data from the Adolescent
Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study to identify key neural networks associated with early externalizing
and examining how genetic and environmental risk are associated. The second part (Aims 2 & 3) involves
collecting neuroimaging, genetic, and phenotypic data from youth enrolled in Multisystemic Therapy (MST), an
empirically-supported treatment for substance problems in youth with severe behavior problems. Third,
comprehensive pilot data on family trios will be used to support future grant submissions examining
transmission of risk and impact of treatment on family systems. Etiologic findings from ABCD, will be translated
and applied in this clinical sample, addressing the following research aims: 1) Identify the neural networks
and genetic and environmental factors that relate to externalizing outcomes in youth, 2) Examine the
impact of MST on multimodal indices of inhibitory control, reward responsivity, and socioemotional
functioning in treatment seeking youth, and 3) Examine how genetic and environmental risk are
associated with MST treatment outcomes and 4) Examine the impact of MST on the family system. The
following training objectives will be completed during the award period to equip the candidate to carry out the
proposed project and establish herself as an independent investigator ready to conduct future projects
following from this work: 1) Training in advanced multivariate network neuroscience methods; 2) Training
in advanced quantitative and statistical genetics methods; 3) Further develop clinical and translational
research skills; 4) Improving professional skills essential for an independent patient-oriented
investigator. The proposed K23 ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10886987
- **Project number:** 1K23DA058808-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Brislin
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $173,504
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10886987

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10886987, Neural, genetic, and environmental indicators of treatment outcomes for adolescent substance use (1K23DA058808-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10886987. Licensed CC0.

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