Nakul Ravi Raval, PhD
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Associate Research Scientist in Psychiatry
Education
PhD
Kobenhavn University, Neuroscience (2022)
Kobenhavn University, Neuroscience (2022)
MSc
Uppsala University, Medical Nuclide Techniques (2019)
Uppsala University, Medical Nuclide Techniques (2019)
Publications Overview
- 21 Publications
- 423 Citations
- 27 Yale Co-Authors
Contact Info
Titles
Associate Research Scientist in Psychiatry
Education
PhD
Kobenhavn University, Neuroscience (2022)
Kobenhavn University, Neuroscience (2022)
MSc
Uppsala University, Medical Nuclide Techniques (2019)
Uppsala University, Medical Nuclide Techniques (2019)
Publications Overview
- 21 Publications
- 423 Citations
- 27 Yale Co-Authors
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Associate Research Scientist in Psychiatry
Biography
Nakul Raval is a neuroscientist specializing in positron emission tomography imaging and radioligand development for brain research. His work bridges radiochemistry and neurobiology to design and evaluate novel tracers for studying brain function. He focuses on substance use disorders, aiming to develop imaging tools to understand the molecular pathways driving these disorders. Using a translational approach, Nakul’s research advances how PET imaging can inform treatment strategies and deepen our understanding of the human brain.
Last Updated on November 12, 2025.
Appointments
Psychiatry
Associate Research ScientistPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- Kobenhavn University, Neuroscience (2022)
- MSc
- Uppsala University, Medical Nuclide Techniques (2019)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Mental Disorders; Neuroimaging; Positron-Emission Tomography
ORCID
0000-0001-5637-7219
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Nakul Ravi Raval's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Nakul Ravi Raval's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Nakul Ravi Raval is interested in exploring.
Ansel Hillmer, PhD
Kelly Cosgrove, PhD
Sherry McKee, PhD
Yasmin Zakiniaeiz, PhD
Brian Pittman
Gustavo A. Angarita, MD, MHS
21Publications
423Citations
Positron-Emission Tomography
Publications
Featured Publications
Acute Alcohol‐Induced Changes Measured With Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Positron Emission Tomography
Raval N, Smart K, Angarita G, Miller R, Huang Y, Krystal J, Carson R, Cosgrove K, O'Malley S, Hillmer A. Acute Alcohol‐Induced Changes Measured With Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Positron Emission Tomography. Addiction Biology 2025, 30: e70031. PMID: 40309934, PMCID: PMC12044519, DOI: 10.1111/adb.70031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricImaging the brain’s immune response to alcohol with [11C]PBR28 TSPO Positron Emission Tomography
Raval N, Angarita G, Matuskey D, Miller R, Drake L, Kapinos M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Carson R, O’Malley S, Cosgrove K, Hillmer A. Imaging the brain’s immune response to alcohol with [11C]PBR28 TSPO Positron Emission Tomography. Molecular Psychiatry 2023, 28: 3384-3390. PMID: 37532797, PMCID: PMC10743097, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02198-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMultiple sources of β2*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding are differentially affected during tobacco smoking abstinence as revealed by Independent Component Analysis of [18F]Flubatine PET images
Raval N, Calakos K, Zheng M, Huttner A, Esterlis I, Huang H, Calhoun V, Picciotto M, Cosgrove K, Hillmer A. Multiple sources of β2*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding are differentially affected during tobacco smoking abstinence as revealed by Independent Component Analysis of [18F]Flubatine PET images. Neuropsychopharmacology 2026, 51: 1207-1216. PMID: 41559453, PMCID: PMC13213061, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-025-02311-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates how smoking affects brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes, showing distinct changes that could guide treatments for smoking cessation.
2026
Legal blood alcohol concentration limits and alcohol-attributable traffic mortality rates: an analysis across 165 countries
Jimenez Chavez C, Peltier M, Mokwuah A, Bin-Mahfouz A, Verplaetse T, Zakiniaeiz Y, Kohler R, Garcia-Rivas V, Banini B, Raval N, Pittman B, McKee S. Legal blood alcohol concentration limits and alcohol-attributable traffic mortality rates: an analysis across 165 countries. EClinicalMedicine 2026, 93: 103794. PMID: 41768275, PMCID: PMC12945517, DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103794.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricHigher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder
Zakiniaeiz Y, Raval N, Riordan W, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Pittman B, Matuskey D, Angarita G, Bonomi R, McKee S, Hillmer A, Cosgrove K. Higher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2026, 136: e199989. PMID: 41528802, PMCID: PMC13038192, DOI: 10.1172/jci199989.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates how chronic alcohol use reduces brain synaptic density in key regions, linking greater drinking frequency to more severe synaptic deficits and cognitive impairments.
2025
Imaging Neuroimmune Dysfunction: From TSPO to Emerging Positron Emission Tomography Targets
Bonomi R, Raval N, Hillmer A, Cosgrove K. Imaging Neuroimmune Dysfunction: From TSPO to Emerging Positron Emission Tomography Targets. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 99: 1013-1024. PMID: 41297785, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.11.010.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricClinical and preclinical evidence of sex differences in nicotine-induced enhancement of alcohol self-administration
Garcia-Rivas V, Zakiniaeiz Y, Jimenez Chavez C, Kohler R, Peltier M, Raval N, Verplaetse T, Zhou H, McKee S. Clinical and preclinical evidence of sex differences in nicotine-induced enhancement of alcohol self-administration. Psychopharmacology 2025, 1-14. PMID: 41240074, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-025-06965-x.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsAltmetricAlcohol use during pregnancy: the impact of social determinants of health on alcohol consumption among pregnant women
Peltier M, Verplaetse T, Bici V, Mokwuah A, Chavez C, Zakiniaeiz Y, Kohler R, Garcia-Rivas V, Banini B, Zhou H, Raval N, Pittman B, McKee S. Alcohol use during pregnancy: the impact of social determinants of health on alcohol consumption among pregnant women. Biology Of Sex Differences 2025, 16: 49. PMID: 40598644, PMCID: PMC12219128, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-025-00731-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2024
An In Vivo High-Resolution Human Brain Atlas of Synaptic Density
Johansen A, Beliveau V, Colliander E, Raval N, Dam V, Gillings N, Aznar S, Svarer C, Plavén-Sigray P, Knudsen G. An In Vivo High-Resolution Human Brain Atlas of Synaptic Density. Journal Of Neuroscience 2024, 44: e1750232024. PMID: 38997157, PMCID: PMC11326867, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1750-23.2024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricDevelopment of Peptide-Based Probes for Molecular Imaging of the Postsynaptic Density in the Brain
Fernandes E, Palner M, Raval N, Jeppesen T, Danková D, Bærentzen S, Werner C, Eilts J, Maric H, Doose S, Aripaka S, Kaalund S, Aznar S, Kjaer A, Schlosser A, Haugaard-Kedström L, Knudsen G, Herth M, Stro̷mgaard K. Development of Peptide-Based Probes for Molecular Imaging of the Postsynaptic Density in the Brain. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry 2024, 67: 11975-11988. PMID: 38981131, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00615.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Evaluation of (S)-[18F]OF-NB1 as a radioligand for Positron Emission Tomography imaging of GluN2B-NMDA
IRB ID2000038885RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2030Recruiting Participants
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News
- June 24, 2026
YBII Pilot Grant Awardees - Spring 2026
- January 20, 2026
Yale Study: Higher Drinking Frequency Corresponds to Lower Synaptic Density in People with Alcohol Use Disorder
- September 22, 2025
Raval Awarded K99/R00 Grant From NIAAA
- June 25, 2025
SNMMI honors Yale researchers with awards at 2025 annual meeting
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