AREAS OF RESEARCH

This research theme focuses on identifying the physiological bases for drives and behaviors that contribute to the development, maintenance, or recovery from neuropsychiatric dysfunction to improve the assessment and treatment of mental and physical health. 
This research theme focuses on the existing and emerging tools and techniques in multimodal imaging. 
This research theme focuses on real-time feedback modalities to change dysfunctional processes in psychiatric populations.
This research theme focuses on the use of physiological measures to examine the connection between body and brain.
This research theme focuses on the use of biochemical measures, ranging from inflammatory markers to microbiome assessments. 

Our Goal

The goal for LIBR is to generate impactful research (knowledge) that makes a difference in mental health.  That is, the principle product of LIBR is knowledge building.  In order for knowledge to be impactful, it needs to change behavior of the stakeholders and as a consequence improve the quality of life of the mentally ill.  This change in behavior could be (a) applying a new treatment, (b) providing information to the patient that affects their behavior to improve outcomes, (c) changing the strategy of treatment based on novel assessments, (d) providing information about likely outcomes in the future.  A critical issue in making knowledge produced at LIBR impactful is the gap of time between the acquisition of knowledge and the implementation in clinical practice.  This gap of time will be greater if production of knowledge focuses on basic processes underlying the pathophysiology of the disorder.

What is Needed

(1)   Earlier detection of the development and/or exacerbation of mental health conditions, e.g. early but not late stages of mood disorder may be treatable with an anti-inflammatory agent

(2)   Sensitive and specific tests for severity of mental health conditions, e.g. predicting relapse may allow the clinician to intervene early

(3)   Earlier and sensitive detectors of treatment effects of interventions for mental health conditions, e.g. rather than waiting 4-6 weeks for an antidepressant to show significant effects, early changes may help to select treatments that work faster

(4)   Detection of emergence of side effects

(5)   More effective interventions for anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders