The Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) was founded by the William K. Warren Foundation in 2009 with a mission to advance mental health research and neuroscience. From Day 1, LIBR has maintained a deep, collaborative relationship with The University of Tulsa that leverages the potential of both entities.
“Our scientific team brings expertise in clinical psychology, neuroimaging, computational psychiatry, and treatment development,” explained Dr. Martin Paulus, LIBR’s president and scientific director. “Complementing these strengths, UTulsa faculty contribute their academic excellence in psychology, biology, neuroscience, mathematics, and computer science.”
Maria Ironside is LIBR’s university liaison and inaugural co-chair of UTulsa’s Women in Science and Engineering initiative. She explains that the LIBR-UTulsa partnership has generated substantial benefits throughout the past 15 years: “Because LIBR investigators hold academic appointments at the university, they have access to a broad academic network. This has fostered interdisciplinary collaborations and accelerated productivity and innovation.” As evidence, Ironside points to the more than 380 publications that LIBR and UTulsa researchers, including students, have jointly published since 2012.
Peering into all corners of the mind
Among LIBR’s many recent and ongoing research projects, the following four showcase the variety of investigations being carried out.
The Tulsa 1000 (T-1000) Study is a longitudinal study led by Paulus that recruited 1,000 participants in order to uncover the neural mechanisms of mental health disorders. UTulsa faculty and graduate students in biology, engineering, and psychology contributed to its design and data analysis. Dozens of scientific papers have been published documenting the T-1000’s critical insights into the biological causes, mechanisms, outcomes, and potential therapeutic approaches for conditions such as anxiety and depression.
The connection between scientific discovery and social impact through community-based research is exemplified in Evan White’s Neuroscience of American Indian Resilience and Risk (Neu-AIRR) Lab. Specifically, his National Institutes of Health-funded work examines cultural protective factors against substance use disorders and poor mental health outcomes in Native American communities. “Our goal,” said White, “is to integrate clinical and cultural neuroscience to identify modifiable factors as candidate treatment targets for mental health intervention and prevention.”
Jonathan Savitz, meanwhile, is exploring the antidepressant effects of exercise on individuals with bipolar depression. “Specifically, this 2×2, within-subjects, crossover trial looks at whether the anti-inflammatory properties of ibuprofen attenuate exercise’s antidepressant effects,” Savitz explained. “I am grateful for the contributions of former Assistant Professor Davis Hale and other faculty in UTulsa’s Department of Kinesiology & Rehabilitative Sciences who helped design the exercise protocol.”
Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development StudySM (ABCD Study®), LIBR researchers are shedding light on a concern that is top of mind for many parents and educators: the potential negative effects of screen media activity (SMA) on young people. The ABCD Study is a longitudinal exploration of youth development conducted at 21 sites across the United States. Paulus, the principal investigator for the ABCD Study’s LIBR site, explained that the team “has used data from the study to understand the impact of SMA on brain development, cognitive functioning, and mental health.” One of their most significant findings has been the relationship between high screen time and changes in brain regions associated with emotional regulation, decision-making, and risk-taking behaviors.
Advancing students’ knowledge and careers
UTulsa students are among the chief beneficiaries of the LIBR partnership. LIBR scientists give frequent guest lectures at the university and host clinical practicum experiences and training for students as part of the institute’s clinical trials. “Through our collaboration,” Ironside noted, “students from biochemistry, psychology, computer science, and other departments have direct access to leading neuroscience researchers and benefit from hands-on experience – through projects such as T-1000 and ABCD Study – in neuroimaging, psychophysiology, neuromodulation, and computational techniques.”
In their role as university faculty, LIBR investigators also mentor undergraduate students taking part in the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC). Through their involvement in LIBR studies, students have worked directly with people experiencing anxiety, depression, substance use, and other conditions. Along the way, they have developed skills in statistical analysis, neuroimaging, and the management of clinical trials. They have also developed experience in conference presentations, scientific publications, and successful grant applications.
“Students bring an intellectual energy to our laboratories that truly enhances our scientific culture and productivity,” said Robin Aupperle, director of the NeuroCognitive Aspects of Anxiety, Trauma and Treatment Laboratory. “It’s not a stretch to say that mentoring them is the most rewarding aspect of my work.”
As part of their LIBR work, students may develop their investigations into scientific posters for presentation at the annual LIBR Research Day. Many students have also presented posters at that event highlighting the research they conducted as part of the LIBR Accelerated Summer Research internship program. This eight-week, full-time, paid opportunity immerses current undergraduate students and others who have recently graduated in an environment exclusively devoted to mental health research.
Kelly Cosgrove (B.S. ’17, M.A. ’19, Ph.D. ’23) and Nicholas Tsahiridis (B.S. ’23) are two of the many students who engaged in LIBR research during their UTulsa years.
Currently a T32 postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Cosgrove began examining interoceptive processing in relation to brain imaging and mental health as part of her TURC experience. She then continued this line of investigation at LIBR during her clinical psychology doctoral studies. “My time at LIBR was invaluable,” Cosgrove said. “The exceptional mentorship, cutting-edge resources, and unique training opportunities were an amazing complement to my studies. I’m so grateful for these experiences and how well they prepared me for a career in neuroscience research.”
LIBR’s impact on Tsahiridis’ scholarly and professional trajectory has been similarly weighty. Tsahiridis completed a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences on the pre-med track while minoring in neuroscience, psychology, and bioinformatics. In addition to his demanding coursework, he served as a LIBR student researcher. After graduation from UTulsa, Tsahiridis continued on to work as a neurodiagnostic technologist in the Duke University Health System. He is currently completing a master’s in biomedical sciences before applying to medical school.
“My LIBR experiences, particularly with the ABCD Study, where I focused on the mental health effects on adolescents of the COVID-19 pandemic, deepened my understanding of both neuroscience and clinical research,” Tsahiridis remarked. “The hands-on work I did at LIBR not only enhanced my technical skills but also reinforced my passion for health care. It also has been instrumental in shaping my career and giving me the foundation I need to reach my ultimate goal of becoming a physician.”
An expansive, impactful future ahead
Looking to the future of the LIBR-UTulsa partnership, Dr. Susan Pepin, dean of the Oxley College of Heath & Natural Sciences, sees immense and exciting opportunities for further growth and collaboration. “As our university seeks to expand its neuroscience programs, there is a clear alignment with LIBR’s strategic priorities,” Pepin commented. “This includes advancing interdisciplinary research and broadening population-based neuroscience efforts.”