RAD Lab

We are currently recruiting Native young adults ages 18-29 for four weeks of paid surveys in Minnesota and Wisconsin!

Here's the link to see if you're eligible.
https://redcap.ahc.umn.edu/surveys/?s=TDA37YDADD9ND3N4

From The Trevor Project "NEW: At a time when LGBTQ existence is unfairly at the center of national political debate, our 2023 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ young people shows the urgency of ensuring that they feel safe, supported, and belonged.
For the fifth consecutive year, we know that experiencing anti-LGBTQ stigma — whether in their home, at school or seeing hateful rhetoric in the news — can contribute to high rates of mental health challenges and su***de risk. Yet, many LGBTQ young people continue to face barriers in accessing mental healthcare,
We can do better. By creating affirming spaces, respecting pronouns, and genuinely learning about LGBTQ identities and topics, these simple acts of respect and love can ensure that LGBTQ young people know that they’re never alone and can always find support from their family and friends.
Building a better world for LGBTQ youth starts with you. Read our full survey."

2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health is the organization’s fourth annual national survey, amplifying the experiences of nearly 34,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 24 across…

Yuko Taniguchi, one of the RAD Lab's brilliant collaborators, wrote a beautiful essay on sleep. Check it out here:

Meditation on Sleep – Mn Artists Sleep as travel, sleep as spirit, sleep as country, sleep as grammar, sleep as diversity, sleep as hospitality, sleep that catches you

September is National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. In this recent interview, RAD Lab's Dr. Katie Cullen discusses her and collaborator Dr. Mark Fiecas' role in the ABCD Study, looking at neurodevelopmental precursors to risk-factors for dying by su***de.

Other co-investigators include RAD Lab's Dr. Bonnie Klimes-Dougan, and collaborators Drs. Bryon Mueller and Monica Luciana.

Foundational study identifying biomarkers that could aid in early detection of su***de in adolescents Associate Professor Kathryn Cullen, MD, of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is co-Principal Investigator with Assistant Professor Mark Fiecas, PhD, in the Division of Biostatistics of the U’s School of Public Health, on a study funded by the National Institutes of Health that ...

Check out this article featuring RAD Lab's Dr. Katie Cullen discussing her new project exploring creative therapies and adolescent depression!

Minnesota Futures Award Supports ‘Creative Camp’ Research for Adolescent Mental Health Studies have shown that creative activities like writing, drawing or knitting can help reduce depression, stress and anxiety, but scientists aren’t yet certain how creative thinking might help individuals shift out of negative thought patterns and into more flexible states of mind. “My research ...

GET TO KNOW US; WEEKLY STAFF HIGHLIGHT!
Poojah is primarily the clinical research coordinator for the BRIDGES study. Prior to joining the RAD lab, she conducted research on child development and maltreatment as a senior research assistant at Child Trends. She has also worked closely with adolescents with high suicidal tendencies and self-harming behaviors while working in a DBT-focused residential treatment center. Poojah is passionate about research on the neurobiology of depression, su***de, self-harm, and attachment in adolescents. She will be departing the lab soon to begin a PsyD program! Congratulations!

GET TO KNOW US/ STAFF HIGHLIGHT!
Dawson Hill is a post-bacc that first became interested in the RAD Lab because of the research related to MRI imaging and how you can look for indicators and signs of disorders based on brain structure. Additionally, he likes being a part of the RAD Lab because of the team atmosphere involved and how everything comes together with many different contributions. Dawson will soon be departing the lab to pursue medical school this summer! Wish him well!

We are still seeking participants for our Mindfulness & tDCS Study! For more information complete the screening survey ://redcap.ahc.umn.edu/surveys/?s=FXFMHDCNH4 or contact us at [email protected]

Looking forward to potentially working with you :)

GET TO KNOW US! STAFF HIGHLIGHT:
Andrea Nicole Wiglesworth is a member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation (Deer Clan) and a second year graduate student in the Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research Ph.D. program. She is interested in the relationship between forms of stress (e.g. minority stress in Native American populations, chronic stressors such as poverty, and childhood maltreatment) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in childhood and adolescence. She examines neurobiological and psychophysiological mechanisms that may inform how these constructs are related.

GET TO KNOW US! WEEKLY STAFF HIGHLIGHT:
Alanna Nascene is a clinical research coordinator on the RADLab team, and she is primarily responsible for the Mindful Breathing/tDCS Depression Study and the NAC Self-harm Study. Alanna has been a coordinator at the U for just about 2yrs, and before that, she has worked in direct service care as a mental health worker and chemical dependency tech. She is currently also a master's candidate in the UMN School of Public Health Administration and Policy. She is incredibly interested in serving vulnerable populations - especially those with severe and persistent mental illnesses - in whatever capacity she can, whether it be direct care, research, or volunteering.
In her free time, Alanna enjoys reading and cuddling her two cats, Witcher & Weasley. She also loves contact sports: rugby, roller derby, and Krav Maga to name a few!