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Category: Brown School
Researcher wins $5M NIH grant to improve mental health care for HIV patients
Proscovia Nabunya, PhD, an associate professor at the Brown School, has received a $5 million federal grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to streamline mental health treatment and HIV medication support for adolescents living with HIV in rural Uganda. The five-year project (2025-2030) is a […]
Brown School training program funding renewed, continues decades of work
A Brown School training program that helps educate and support mental health researchers and scholars will mark 35 years of continuous funding at the end of its latest grant extension. The Brown School training program in mental health services research has received a five-year $2.4 million grant extension from the National Institutes of Mental Health […]
Brown School faculty join national effort to advance psychedelic therapy education
Two faculty members from the Brown School are among the first cohort to complete a specialized training program designed to help social work and nursing educators integrate psychedelic-assisted therapy content into academic curricula. Tonya Edmond, PhD, professor, and Ryan Lindsay, professor of practice and chair of the mental health concentration, were among 63 participants selected from […]
Cabassa urges equity in psychedelic therapy during podcast appearance
Leopoldo J. Cabassa, professor at the Brown School and co-founder of WashU’s Center for Holistic Interdisciplinary Research in Psychedelics (CHIRP), is urging greater focus on equitable access as psychedelic-assisted therapy gains momentum in mainstream mental health care. In a recent episode of the podcast Survival in the Trenches: Life Beyond Loss, Cabassa, who also co-directs the Brown School’s Center […]
Obituary: Jeremy Goldbach, Brown School professor, 42
Jeremy Goldbach, a nationally recognized scholar on LGBTQ+ mental health and the inaugural Masters & Johnson Distinguished Professor in Sexual Health and Education at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, died Saturday, June 7, 2025, of cancer. He was 42. Goldbach also served as associate dean for faculty affairs at the Brown […]
Ten inducted into Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
The Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, established in 2005 by Yale University and Howard University, recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate. WashU recently inducted five doctoral candidates and five postdoctoral fellows. This is the second year that the university has nominated postdoctoral fellows for induction into the society. Inductees […]
WashU experts defend fluoride with facts
As more U.S. cities debate whether to remove fluoride from their water systems, public health experts at the Prevention Research Center (PRC) at Washington University in St. Louis are providing clear, evidence-based tools to help local communities make informed choices. Fluoride, long hailed as one of the most effective and low-cost ways to prevent tooth decay, has […]
Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging relocates to the Brown School
The Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging has officially relocated to WashU’s Brown School from the Institute for Public Health, marking a significant milestone in the center’s ongoing efforts to promote the interests of older adults and aging societies across all disciplines and professions. Founded in 1998 through the vision of Chancellor Emeritus Mark Wrighton and later […]
The Healing Power of Sound: Meditation Research Suggests Sound Can Reduce Anxiety & Pain
WashU “sound bath” facilitator and mindfulness researcher Diana Parra Perez, PhD, said sound is not only perceived through the ear, but also by the body through vibrations from sound waves that travel through the air. The WashU assistant professor discusses the practices and benefits of sound therapies. For example, can sound therapy with Tibetan singing […]
TRIADS announces new round of seed grants
The Transdisciplinary Institute in Applied Data Sciences (TRIADS) has announced its newest crop of seed grant recipients, with eight teams of researchers receiving funding. Featuring faculty from four different WashU schools (Arts & Sciences, Brown School, McKelvey School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine), these projects leverage data science to address pressing societal issues. Each research […]
Cabassa to deliver 2025 Aaron Rosen Lecture at SSWR conference
Leopoldo J. Cabassa, PhD, a professor at the Brown School and co-director of the Center for Mental Health Services Research, has been selected to present the 2025 Aaron Rosen Lecture at the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) annual conference in mid-January in Seattle. The Aaron Rosen Lecture is one of the highest honors in social work […]
The potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy
More than half a century after the U.S. government deemed psychedelic drugs to be of “no medical use,” scientists have begun re-evaluating that dismissive assessment with the tools of modern science. Dozens of clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapies for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions are underway or planned. So far, the results […]
Halting hidden hunger
Under a large tent outside a medical clinic in El Quinche, Ecuador, shiny pink streamers sway in the April breeze. It seems like an unlikely place for a baby shower, but the women gathered here are familiar with the spot. They first entered the tent months before as newly expectant mothers, referred by their health-care […]
Founders Day recognizes faculty, alumni, friends
The Washington University in St. Louis community came together Nov. 9 at its annual Founders Day celebration to honor the outstanding achievements of some of the university’s most distinguished faculty, alumni and friends. The event was held at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Four faculty were among those recognized at the event, which was […]
11 Brown School faculty named to ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists’ list
Eleven faculty members from the Brown School have been named to the 2024 Stanford University-Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientists list, a global recognition honoring the most-cited researchers across a wide range of scientific fields. The list highlights the top 2% of scientists worldwide whose research has significantly impacted their fields and influenced global research trends. Rankings are […]
Medicaid enrollment associated with higher risk of cancer death
Enrollment in Medicaid was associated with higher risk of death from a central nervous system (CNS) tumor, with an almost two-fold higher risk for young CNS tumor patients enrolled at diagnosis, finds a study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. “We found a higher risk for those insured through Medicaid than […]
Creating healthier futures: The science behind public health
Public health is often the unseen force that keeps our communities thriving. From ensuring clean water to managing vaccination programs and regulating food safety, it is the vital infrastructure that promotes healthier lifestyles and safeguards our environments. Without it, communities are left vulnerable to emerging threats, underscoring the critical need to reinforce this infrastructure. What […]
Potential of mindfulness to enhance cognitive health in Latinx older adults being studied
Mindfulness-based approaches are mental health practices intended to ground people, help them focus attention, and teach them how to think through overwhelming emotions and problems, but that is just the start. The more people are taught ways to better handle stress, the better protected they may be from the physiological problems that stress produces, including […]
Friedman Center grant to study experiences of ageism
The Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at WashU has received an 18-month $136,000 grant from the RRF Foundation for Aging to study how older adults understand and experience ageism. Ageism is “prevalent, invisible and hurts older people and communities,” said Nancy Morrow-Howell, PhD, the Bettie Bofinger Brown Distinguished Professor of Social Policy at the Brown […]
WashU research funding exceeds $1 billion for first time
For the first time, annual research funding to Washington University in St. Louis has surpassed $1 billion. External funding supports WashU investigators tackling big challenges from Alzheimer’s disease to air pollution to childhood depression. Research funding also ripples across the economy, sparking job growth, new construction and local spending, said Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. “There […]
St. Louis wants to turbocharge its neuroscience sector with the NEURO360 program
St. Louis is vying for a $160 million grant that leaders and academics hope will turbocharge the neuroscience sector and rectify entrenched health disparities throughout the region. The effort is part of an application to be one of the next National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines. The idea is to help assets in higher education, nonprofits, […]
New NSF grant to fund faculty equity programs and new center focused on civic mindfulness
When you think of mindfulness, a personal practice of deep breathing, meditation or pausing for reflection might come to mind. Expanding its use beyond the individual benefit to the collective to achieve systemic change and organizational equity is the focus of a prestigious National Science Foundation grant recently awarded to Washington University in St. Louis. […]
A call for equity in digital health tool design
As digital health tools grow in popularity due to rapid technological advancements and the shift toward personalized medicine, a new study highlights the critical need to focus on equity in their design. Today’s digital health tools are transforming care: wearable devices offer continuous monitoring and early warnings; telemedicine provides virtual consultations, especially in underserved areas; […]
Here and Next Awards Spring 2024
The Research Development Office in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is pleased to announce the final awardees from FY 2024 of the Here and Next Seed Grant Program. The program’s broad goal is to encourage novel, innovative interdisciplinary research excellence amongst Washington University researchers on both the Med School and Danforth Campuses. […]
Universitywide effort aims to bring WashU to the world
As a new academic year begins, Washington University in St. Louis is unveiling a new visual identity and an enhanced effort to communicate its important contributions in the areas of education, research and patient care to key internal and external audiences. The update includes a new university logo and website and the official adoption of […]
Gurnett, Ssewamala to receive faculty achievement awards
Christina Gurnett, MD, PhD, and Fred Ssewamala, PhD, have been chosen by their academic peers to receive Washington University in St. Louis’ 2024 faculty achievement awards, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin announced. Gurnett, the A. Ernest and Jane G. Stein Professor of Developmental Neurology at the School of Medicine, will receive the Carl and Gerty Cori Faculty […]
WashU Expert: Social workers key to psychedelic-assisted therapies
s psychedelic-assisted therapy gains mainstream acceptance, the role of social workers, who provide a significant portion of mental health services in the United States, will become increasingly important in this emerging field, says an expert on mental health in the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Psychedelics such as psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine […]
Traube Installed as Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School
Dorian E. Traube, PhD, an expert on early childhood development, was installed as the Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis during a Feb. 15 ceremony in Brown Hall. Traube was appointed dean in March 2023 and began her tenure Aug. 1. Previously, Traube was a […]
Social determinants of health increase Alzheimer’s risk
Social determinants of health are increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, finds a recent study from the Brown School and the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. “It is central for prevention of Alzheimer’s and related dementia to set up public policies addressing social determinants from very early on in […]
Washington University and Deerfield Management launch VeritaScience to drive drug discovery
Washington University in St. Louis and Deerfield Management, a health-care investment firm, today announced the launch of VeritaScience, a new private R&D collaboration designed to advance the discovery, clinical development and commercialization of promising therapeutic and diagnostic candidates with potential to benefit human health. To support projects that originate from the collaboration, Deerfield has committed up to […]
St. Louis Confluence Collaborative search committee convenes
Deepening and strengthening Washington University’s partnerships and impact in the St. Louis region is a top institutional priority, as evidenced during Chancellor Andrew D. Martin’s inauguration in 2019 and in the “Here and Next” strategic plan. The new St. Louis Confluence Collaborative for Community-Engaged Research, Teaching and Practice is part of the plan in action. […]
ICTS Precision Health Team Develops Genomic Return of Results Service
Returning genetic results to research participants requires thoughtful planning. ICTS Precision Health at Washington University in St. Louis, aims to catalyze genomic research by providing grant review and development services, guidance and resources for genomic researchers and genomics education in the community. Precision Health is a component of the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences’ Clinical and Translational […]
Cabassa appointed to mental health advisory board
Leopoldo Cabassa, PhD, a professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, has been appointed as a member of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Research Advisory Board. First introduced in 2021, the independent advisory group was convened to advance the research, monitoring and evaluation of MHFA courses in the United States. It […]
Lowe appointed vice chancellor for research
Mark E. Lowe, MD, PhD, an academic leader and accomplished pediatric physician-scientist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been appointed the university’s vice chancellor for research. He also has been named senior associate dean of research at WashU Medicine. Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, Provost Beverly Wendland and David H. Perlmutter, MD, […]
Masters of perception
As part of the Incubator for Transdisciplinary Futures, faculty members across Arts & Sciences are working together to decode the relationship between technology and the mind. Can artificial intelligence help us better understand the mechanics of the human brain? How can educators deploy virtual and augmented reality in the classroom? What does modern mindfulness look […]
Quinn awarded grant to compare neurotropic markers in human and primate milk
A new Leakey Foundation award will support research to better understand how certain hormones in breast milk contribute to brain growth in humans and primates. E.A. Quinn, PhD, associate professor of biological anthropology, has received a grant from the Leakey Foundation to study how neurotropic hormones in human and primate milk affect brain growth. Humans have very […]
The Institute for Public Health 2023 Summer Research Program kicks off with new research track, 34 trainees
The Institute for Public Health Summer Research Program launches this month with three tracks of study. This year, the program offers established tracks in Public and Global Health and in Aging and Neurological Diseases, and a new RADIANCE track in cardiovascular disease and blood disorders. Each summer, the program is open to students who seek challenge, research […]
Board grants faculty appointments, promotions
At the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees meeting May 5, numerous faculty members were appointed with tenure, promoted with tenure or granted tenure. Their tenure will take effect July 1 unless otherwise indicated. Appointment with tenure M. Paz Galupo as professor at the Brown School; and Elaine A. Peña as professor of performing arts […]
Hudson named director of Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity
Darrell Hudson, PhD, an associate professor at the Brown School, will become director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE2) at Washington University in St. Louis, effective July 1. Hudson has served as a CRE2 associate director since July 2022. Hudson also has courtesy appointments with the Department of Psychiatry, at the School […]
Inaugural Danforth St. Louis Confluence conference elevates community research
Matthew Kreuter, a faculty member at the Brown School, is the first recipient of the William H. Danforth St. Louis Confluence Award (STLCA), the Office of the Provost announced. The award focuses on and elevates Washington University in St. Louis’ investment in the region by encouraging research that enhances community impact. “William H. Danforth is the […]
ICTS Announces 2023-2024 CTRFP Awardees
Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) and The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital awards 28 investigators as part of the 16th annual Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program (CTRFP). The CTRFP is the largest internal grant funding program of the ICTS. Applicants are required to submit proposals for projects that promote the translation […]
Depression in college-educated Black Americans linked to discrimination
Racial discrimination was found to be a significant force behind higher levels of depression among college-educated Black Americans, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. “Our results indicate that there is an alarming level of depression among upwardly mobile — which we define as college-educated — Black Americans,” […]
New Book by Leopoldo J. Cabassa Examines Health Inequities, Mental Illness
People with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, die 10-25 years earlier than people in the general population, largely due to preventable medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. A new book by the Brown School’s Leopoldo J. Cabassa, PhD examines the reasons for these inequities and suggests ways to reduce or eliminate them. […]
WashU weekly Neuroscience publications: December 19, 2022
Researchers awarded $1.2M to study depression among youth with HIV in Uganda
Proscovia Nabunya, PhD, an assistant professor at the Brown School and co-director of the International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD); and Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine, both at Washington University in St. Louis, have received a five-year $1.2 million research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, […]