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Yale Translational Brain Imaging Program
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    About Us

    Our research explores the neurobiological basis of addiction (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana) and mood/anxiety disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD). We use state-of-the- art brain imaging technologies Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to investigate certain receptors in the brain and neural mechanisms that are thought to underlie these disorders.

    Taking part in our research will improve our understanding of addiction and mood disorders so that they can be treated more effectively in the future.

    Participate in Our Research

    We are continuously recruiting volunteers to participate in our imaging studies. Each study has different requirements. We are looking for people with depression, bipolar disorder and PTSD. We are also recruiting individuals who smoke tobacco, use alcohol or marijuana, or use e-cigarettes/vape. We also recruit individuals who are healthy to act as a comparison group. Click here for more information on our criteria.

    Investigators

    • Kelly Cosgrove, PhD

      Smoking

      Professor of Psychiatry and of Neuroscience and of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Co-Director of the T32 Translational Alcohol Research Program, Psychiatry and Public Health

      Dr. Cosgrove uses positron emission tomography (PET) to gain insights into the brains of people after they’ve stopped using alcohol and drugs. Trained as a clinical psychologist who worked with individuals managing alcohol and drug addiction, Dr. Cosgrove transitioned to conducting research in order to find more effective ways of helping patients recover from addiction and avoid relapse. Her laboratory develops and uses creative PET imaging paradigms to track changes in critical neurochemicals during the recovery from addiction.
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    • Irina Esterlis, PhD

      Mood Disorders

      Associate Professor of Psychiatry; Director, Molecular Imaging Program, NCPTSD, VA; Director, Mood, Anxiety, and Cognitive Sciences Division

      Irina Esterlis is a clinical neuropsychologist and neuroreceptor imager with extensive training in the application of SPECT and PET to the study of mental illness and comorbid disorders. Dr. Esterlis has developed two novel paradigms to interrogate both the acetylcholine and glutamatergic systems in vivo in human, and these are being currently applied to the study of mood and addiction disorders. She has received awards from Society of Nuclear Medicine, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Esterlis' current work includes the study of the metabotropic glutamatergic receptor involvement in bipolar depression and suicide, as well as the effects of depression on synaptic aging. Dr. Esterlis is also initiating new work in the study of neurotransmitter alterations in adolescent depression and suicidality.
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