Zachary Harvanek, MD, PhD
he/him/his
Assistant ProfessorCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Safety, tolerability, and drug-drug interactions of NYX-783 and oxycodone in persons using opioids recreationally: Preliminary results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 study.
Harvanek ZM, Mignosa MM, Kitaneh R, Oliva HNP, Borelli A, Dauginikas E, Fogelman N, Sakmar E, Taylor J, DiLeone R, Sinha R, Angarita GA. Safety, tolerability, and drug-drug interactions of NYX-783 and oxycodone in persons using opioids recreationally: Preliminary results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2026, 279: 113041. PMID: 41604752, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113041.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
9. Early Life Stress Shapes How Obesity Measures Predict Epigenetic Aging and Metabolic Health
Harvanek Z, Brick L, Daniels T, Gobin A, Sehgal R, Higgins-Chen A, Marsit C, Burt A, Tyrka A. 9. Early Life Stress Shapes How Obesity Measures Predict Epigenetic Aging and Metabolic Health. Journal Of The Academy Of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry 2025, 66: s5. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2025.10.255.Peer-Reviewed Original Research1761-P: Sex Differences in Emotion Regulation, Leptin, and Eating Behavior in Response to Stress and Food Cues
HORVATH-DIANO C, DAUGINIKAS E, HEILNER E, SAKMAR E, SINHA R, HARVANEK Z. 1761-P: Sex Differences in Emotion Regulation, Leptin, and Eating Behavior in Response to Stress and Food Cues. Diabetes 2025, 74 DOI: 10.2337/db25-1761-p.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEmotion regulationResponse to stressEating behaviorsSex differencesLaboratory sessionsFunding National Institutes of HealthSex-specific effectsStress-related eating behaviorFood cuesBehavioral therapyCue conditionEffect of genderEmotionsPersonal stressHormone samplingSnack testAssociated with lower leptinMultiple pre-CuesSignificant interactionAd libAssociated with lower totalSessionsHigher leptinAcute Physiology649-P: Sex Differences in Predictors of Food Craving, Eating Behavior, and Weight Changes Assessed Longitudinally over a 24-Month Period
DAUGINIKAS E, HORVATH-DIANO C, HEILNER E, SAKMAR E, SINHA R, HARVANEK Z. 649-P: Sex Differences in Predictors of Food Craving, Eating Behavior, and Weight Changes Assessed Longitudinally over a 24-Month Period. Diabetes 2025, 74 DOI: 10.2337/db25-649-p.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEmotion regulationEating behaviorsSex differencesOvereating behaviorFood cravingsResilience factorsDutch Eating Behavior QuestionnaireEmotion Regulation ScaleFood Craving InventoryProblems Experienced questionnaireEating Behavior QuestionnairePerceived Stress ScaleImpact eating behaviorRegulation ScaleCoping OrientationCravingWeight gainBehavior QuestionnaireObesity riskStress ScaleTarget stressEmotionsEatingLinear mixed-effects modelsReduce obesity risk467. TranslAGE-Psychiatry: Biomarkers and Interventions for Reversing Accelerated Aging in Mental Health Conditions
Higgins-Chen A, Harvanek Z. 467. TranslAGE-Psychiatry: Biomarkers and Interventions for Reversing Accelerated Aging in Mental Health Conditions. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s289-s290. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.705.Peer-Reviewed Original Research623. Alcohol Use Disorder is Associated With Disruptions in Neurohormonal Signaling Pathways
Harvanek Z, Hart R, Guarnaccia J, Sinha R. 623. Alcohol Use Disorder is Associated With Disruptions in Neurohormonal Signaling Pathways. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s355. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.862.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRace-Related Differences in Protective Effects of Emotion Regulation Against GrimAge Acceleration Are Driven by Assaultive Trauma
Chowdhary A, Holloway T, Xu K, Sinha R, Harvanek Z. Race-Related Differences in Protective Effects of Emotion Regulation Against GrimAge Acceleration Are Driven by Assaultive Trauma. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2025 PMID: 40232770, PMCID: PMC12354006, DOI: 10.1037/tra0001888.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEmotion regulationLifetime adversityBlack participantsAssess emotion regulationEmotion regulation difficultiesEmotion Regulation ScaleSignificant three-way interactionEffects of adversityBlack adultsThree-way interactionAdversity InventoryRegulation difficultiesRegulation ScaleGrimAge accelerationRegulate emotionsAssaultive traumaTraumatic eventsRace-related differencesNon-Hispanic black adultsWhite participantsEmotionsAdversityRacial differencesCross-sectional studyRace-related disparities512 Predicting outcomes of lifestyle and stress reduction interventions for obesity with DNA methylation and psychological measures
Harvanek Z, Li C, Xu K, Jastreboff A, Sinha R. 512 Predicting outcomes of lifestyle and stress reduction interventions for obesity with DNA methylation and psychological measures. Journal Of Clinical And Translational Science 2025, 9: 150-150. PMCID: PMC12050514, DOI: 10.1017/cts.2024.1093.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStress reduction interventionsReduction interventionsLinear mixed modelsActivity counselingLifestyle interventionPsychological measuresObesity-related outcomesIntervention control groupBaseline psychological measuresEffects of lifestyleYears of obesityRisk of comorbiditiesEpigenetic age accelerationNumerous health issuesAssociated with obesityPost-interventionRandomized-controlled trialsReduce obesityHealth issuesYear Follow-UpDecreased riskHOMA-IRLifestylePsychological factorsIntervention
2024
Perceptions of Care and Perceived Discrimination: A Qualitative Assessment of Adults Living with Sickle Cell Disease
Crusto C, Kaufman J, Harvanek Z, Nelson C, Forray A. Perceptions of Care and Perceived Discrimination: A Qualitative Assessment of Adults Living with Sickle Cell Disease. Journal Of Racial And Ethnic Health Disparities 2024, 12: 3521-3530. PMID: 39227547, DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-02153-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSickle cell diseaseHealth care providersExperiences of adultsDiagnosis of sickle cell diseaseExperiences of discriminationAssessment of adultsCare providersExperiences of biasPublic health concernTertiary medical centerThematic analysisFocus groupsPoor communicationCell diseaseOutpatient clinicTeaching hospitalPerceived DiscriminationMedical CenterHealth concernAverage ageParticipantsCareEthnic groupsProvidersHealthChildhood adversity, accelerated GrimAge, and associated health consequences
Harvanek Z, Kudinova A, Wong S, Xu K, Brick L, Daniels T, Marsit C, Burt A, Sinha R, Tyrka A. Childhood adversity, accelerated GrimAge, and associated health consequences. Journal Of Behavioral Medicine 2024, 47: 913-926. PMID: 38762606, PMCID: PMC11365810, DOI: 10.1007/s10865-024-00496-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBody mass indexChildhood Trauma QuestionnaireGrimAge accelerationEarly life stressChildhood adversityAssociated with higher body mass indexCross-sectional cohort of adultsMetabolic healthEffect of body mass indexHigher Body Mass IndexPhysical health problemsLife stressCohort of adultsAssociated health consequencesEffects of early life stressMetabolic health effectsModerating effect of body mass indexChildhood Trauma Questionnaire subscalesCross-sectional cohortCardiometabolic healthAccelerated GrimAgeCardiometabolic diseasesMedical illnessHealth consequencesMass index
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
Zachary Harvanek, MD, PhD, is a psychiatrist specializing in treating psychiatric disorders in patients with complex medical, surgical, or neurological conditions. He currently works in the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU) at CMHC, where his clinical and research efforts focus on the interplay between mental health and physical health—particularly how stress, adversity, and psychological resilience shape long‑term outcomes such as biological aging, metabolic dysfunction, and obesity.
As an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Harvanek investigates the neurobiological pathways through which stress impacts aging and health across the lifespan. He earned his medical and doctoral degrees at the University of Michigan and completed his psychiatry residency and fellowship at Yale School of Medicine.
Clinical Specialties
Psychosomatic Medicine; Psychiatry
News
News
- January 07, 2026
Faculty, Fellows Give Presentations at Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Annual Meeting
- October 15, 2024
Verplaetse, Snell, Harvanek Awarded Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Grants
- May 20, 2024Source: Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Childhood Adversity, Accelerated GrimAge, and Associated Health Consequences
- July 24, 2023Source: Neurobiology of Stress
Greater Stress and Trauma Mediate Race-Related Differences in Epigenetic Age Between Black and White Young Adults in a Community Sample
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