# Mentoring and research in translational neuroscience of integrative medicine

> **NIH NIH K24** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $189,937

## Abstract

Abstract/Summary
Patient-oriented translational research in complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) has an urgent need
for developing a pipeline of qualified investigators given increased public interest in the use of CIM approaches
and the limited evidence base for their efficacy for treatment and prevention of major disorders. The next
generation of CIM researchers will benefit from the dedicated mentorship of experienced midcareer clinical
investigators. Helen Lavretsky, M.D., M.S., a Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, was named the Semel Scholar
in Integrative Mental Health, and is a clinical investigator dedicated to patient-oriented research in integrative
medicine and mental health. Dr. Lavretsky has a strong record of research, publication, teaching and
mentoring. Her mentored K23 (2001-2007), and the first K-24 (2010-2015) career development grants from the
NIMH, and several subsequent R01 research grants from the NIMH and NCCIH focused on developing
combination and complementary treatment and prevention approaches for late-life mood and cognitive
disorders. Dr. Lavretsky mentors junior faculty, graduate and post-doctoral students, resident physician, and
medical students. Of the 22 trainees mentored during the first K24 award, 11 (50%) now have their own NIH
grants or other career grants, and others are still engaged in clinical research and training.
This proposed K24 Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research will provide protected time and
help expand Dr. Lavretsky's research and mentoring program in translational neuroscience of mind-body
interventions, and to extend mentorship to junior CIM investigators. The main aims of this program will be: 1:
Testing the health benefits of mind-body interventions; 2: Applying innovative technologies to test the
neuroplastic and genomic mechanisms of action of integrative medicine therapies; and 3: Developing the
pipeline of future researchers of CIM. Dr. Lavretsky is developing a curriculum for training of junior
investigators in translational science of integrative medicine for the UCLA CTSI program, as well as a
Graduate Degree course in positive neuroscience of integrative medicine, and plans to submit an application to
NCCIH for a T-32 NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant in the next two years. These training grants will
allow the development of a CIM-targeted research training program at the UCLA. Combined with existing
resources and reputation of the UCLA CTSI and Collaborative Centers for Integrative Medicine, this would
attract an increasing pool of the most qualified and promising future CIM researchers. The proposed research
and additional training will build upon findings from previous research; especially the NCCIH-funded R-01
study of Tai Chi. The K-24 award proposed project will expand to the pilot studies of multimodal MRI to focus
on 1) a pilot study of MRS/ DTI/ fMRI, and 2) gene expression predictors of response to Tai Chi. This K24
application aims to ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9976464
- **Project number:** 5K24AT009198-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Helen Lavretsky
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $189,937
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9976464

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9976464, Mentoring and research in translational neuroscience of integrative medicine (5K24AT009198-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9976464. Licensed CC0.

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