Yammine receives NIDA grant to study smoking cessation

Luba Yammine, PhD, associate professor at the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was recently awarded a $2,246,422 R01 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to conduct a four-year study focused on smoking cessation.

 

The overarching objective of the project, titled “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Exenatide as an Adjunct to Nicotine Patch for Smoking Cessation and Prevention of Post-Cessation Weight Gain,” is to identify a novel approach for facilitating smoking abstinence and limiting post-smoking cessation weight gain. 


Post-cessation weight gain is frequently cited as a primary barrier to smoking cessation and a reason for smoking relapse, but is also associated with an increased risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Availability of efficient approaches to smoking cessation and post-cessation weight management would encourage more smokers to quit and reduce the risk of relapse and premature morbidity and mortality among those who quit.


“The efficacy of the currently available smoking cessation treatments is modest at best,” Yammine said. “The health benefits of achieving smoking abstinence are extensive, however, 80%-90% of those who quit smoking gain weight, which partially attenuates these benefits.”


This clinical trial will examine the impact of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) extended-release exenatide, combined with nicotine patch, on smoking cessation and changes in weight. GLP-1RAs are currently used clinically for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and weight management; however, preclinical studies indicate that GLP-1RAs reduce the intake of nicotine and other addictive substances.

 

This clinical trial builds off a recent project Yammine designed. She led the first human investigation of exenatide for smoking cessation and post-cessation weight management, which showed that exenatide holds promise in improving both smoking and weight outcomes.

 

The project is scheduled to begin enrollment in the fall and will involve collaboration between the UTHealth Houston Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

 

“We are very excited to receive this grant funding,” Yammine said. “That gives us the opportunity to confirm and extend these promising findings over a longer treatment and follow-up period in a substantially larger sample of smokers.” 


Contact CNRA at 713-500-DRUG (3784) for more information regarding this project. 

Faculty spotlight:

Selek selected to Epic board

Salih Selek, MD, professor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was recently elected to the Epic Systems Corporation Behavioral Specialty Steering Board, whose purpose is to create a best-practices guide for live organizations.


Epic's MyChart electronic health record (EHR) system is the preferred electronic medical record system, used by more than 250 health care organizations nationwide. The system allows one chart to follow patients throughout the multiple areas in which they receive care.


Board members are elected by their peers, based on the content and strategy for their specialties. They will draw from their varied practice expertise and Epic experiences to select best practices from an organization’s existing configuration to improve quality of care and productivity. The standards the Behavioral Health Steering Board identifies will become part of the Foundation System and serve as a best practices guide for live organizations.


Selek has an extensive background in clinical informatics. Previously, he was a chief information officer and is currently the editor of digital psychiatry. Selek pursued the opportunity to be on the board to act as the voice of our department. He will be able to advocate ideas on behalf of the department and UTHealth Houston, to provide elite care.


“We are becoming one of the largest hospitals nationwide,” Selek said. “I think it’s important for both our department and patients to be heard on higher levels. I think we have a large footprint that needs to be represented at all levels.” 


The EHR also features a robust, secure patient portal digital tool called MyChart, which is branded as MyUTHealth by the university. Learn more about the new MyUTHealth patient portal here.

Early bird registration has ended, but there's still time to register!

The UTHealth Houston Addictions Conference:  Closing the Gap Between Science and Practice is less than a month away.  If you missed the early bird registration deadline, there is still time to register to attend! Don't miss your chance to hear about he latest in treating and research on addiction disorders. 


Conference overview


Addiction is a complex brain disease that affects millions of Americans with far-reaching and devastating consequences. Scientific research has advanced our understanding of addiction neurobiology and its treatment, using an array of effective behavioral and pharmacological interventions. 


Experts will talk about models for integrating addiction medicine into primary care, along with efforts to improve substance abuse education and training for medical students, physicians, and other health care professionals. Other novel models for closing the gap will be showcased, including integration of addiction treatment with behavioral health care services for people experiencing homelessness, with co-occurring mental health conditions, or living with or affected by HIV. 


The conference is open to medical professionals, nurses, social workers, residents, fellows, and other trainees. For those who attend, up to 12.0 hours of continuing medical education credits are available.


For questions, contact marketing coordinator, Aaron Zapata, at Aaron.Zapata@uth.tmc.edu. Scan the QR code below for registration information. 

Loveland receives education grant

Katherine Loveland, PhD, professor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, recently received a three-year, $617,038 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to fund training for psychology interns in substance use disorder and opioid use disorder, trauma, and telehealth services with underserved communities.


The project, titled “Expanding Psychology Internship Training in SUD/OUD Prevention and Treatment, Trauma-informed Care, and Use of Telehealth Technology in Texas,” will give psychology interns the opportunity to receive training in community health clinics working with underserved communities. It will also create an archive of educational resources for trainees and faculty across disciplines.


This three-year program will allow eight additional interns to receive training in SUD/OUD services; trauma-informed care; integrated; team-based service delivery emphasizing social determinants of health; provider resiliency; and delivery of telehealth services.


Loveland is the training director of the UTHealth Houston Doctoral Psychology Internship Program. She also directs the UTHealth Houston Center for Human Development Research and Changing Lives Through Autism Spectrum Services (C.L.A.S.S.) Clinic. She is an internationally known researcher in autism spectrum disorder and the Landmark Charities Professor in Autism Research and Treatment at McGovern Medical School..


Loveland’s passion is her work on social-emotional development and the neuropsychology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her current research focuses on application of new technologies to the treatment of mental illness in ASD; gene-environment interactions associated with ASD; and cross-cultural influences affecting parenting stress in mothers of children with ASD.


Read Loveland's full bio online

Quintanilla wins Travel Award

Brandi Quintanilla DO, MS, a second-year psychiatry resident at McGovern MEdical School at UTHealth Houston, recently received the 2022 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) travel award.


The ACNP annually selects distinguished young scientists in the neuropsychopharmacology field for this prestigious award. This award provides an opportunity to attend a scientific program in clinical and basic research on brain-behavior-drug interactions, learn about the most recent advances in the field of neuropsychopharmacology, and meet and interact with internationally distinguished researchers and scientists.


Quintanilla’s research career goal is to identify predictive and diagnostic biomarkers for treatment-resistant depression in ethnic minority groups, to enhance development of efficacious rapid-acting interventions in treatment resistant depression.


To be considered for this award, the applicant must show a dedicated line of established research. Quintanilla found her passion for research in undergraduate school. This passion was solidified after completion of a psychiatry summer research fellowship at the University of California at San Diego during second year of medical school. Quintanilla credits her mentor from UC San Diego, Neal Swerdlow, MD, PhD, who paved the path for research opportunities, such as this one.


Quintanilla’s research path led her to a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), experimental therapeutics branch, where her research studies were aimed at identifying mechanisms by which rapid-acting psychoactive antidepressants (RAPA) exert therapeutic effects. One study focused on the potential interaction of the RAPA, ketamine, within the opioid system.


The ACNP travel award is extremely competitive, with only a select few chosen from an applicant field of more than 300. Benefits include attending the 2022 ACNP conference in Phoenix with covered costs, an opportunity to present new innovative research, automatic invitations to the next four annual meetings, and being assigned a distinguished research mentor in the field of neuropsychopharmacology. 


Quintanilla is excited to be a part of the program, not only for the research opportunities, but to encourage other ethnic minority candidates to pursue research awards and opportunities such as these.


“Growing up in a disadvantaged area, I’ve never had access to these opportunities or even knew they existed,” Quintanilla said. “I feel like I’m getting access to something that may not have been as readily available to me previously. It makes me feel humbled and keeps me motivated to work hard.”  


Read more about the travel award program online

Gurguis recognized for NIMH Outstanding Resident Award

Christopher Gurguis, MD, a third-year research track resident at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, recently received an honorable mention for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Outstanding Resident Award Program.


The award’s goal is to recognize residents with outstanding research and academic potential. Research either can be in progress or completed. The award has been given out for more than three decades with the inaugural award in 1988.


An award candidate is nominated by their residency program director with a letter of recommendation. The nominee also must submit their CV and a description of their research interests as well as outline their plans for career as a physician scientist.


Gurguis’ research interests are motivated by his previous career in ecology and evolutionary biology. He has special interest in evolutionary psychiatry, a growing field which applies evolutionary theory to understand the origins and contemporary evolution of mental illness in society. His active projects focus on the reproductive consequences of depression across the 20th century.


With this recognition of his research potential, Gurguis says he will have the opportunity to network with other researchers in the field. He is excited about the potential of collaborating through the NIMH to share his ideas and gain knowledge from others.


“When I received the email, my jaw dropped,” Gurguis said. “I’m very happy that my research potential was recognized through the program.”


Read more about the NIMH outstanding resident award here.  

Congratulations to education awards recipients 

Photo Credit/Douglas Berry

The following faculty and residents/fellows received awards at the 2021-22 graduation dinner:


Faculty Awards

  • 1st Year Outstanding Faculty Educator - Caesa Nagpal, MD
  • 2nd Year Outstanding Faculty Educator - Teresa Pigott, MD
  • 3rd Year Outstanding Faculty Educator - Silvia Hafliger, MD
  • 4th Year Outstanding Faculty Educator - Silvia Hafliger, MD
  • Innovations in Psychiatry Education – Dean Atkinson, MD

 

Resident Awards

  • 1st Year Outstanding PRITE Award - Leonardo Alexandre, MD, and Daniel Liaou, MD
  • 2nd Year Outstanding PRITE Award - Hunter Hinman, MD, and Jordan Shull, MD
  • 3rd Year Outstanding PRITE Award – Gauri Wable, MD, PhD, and Michael Kandalaft, MD
  • 4th Year Outstanding PRITE Award – Kyle Bowers, MD, and Shiyao Wang, MD
  • Psychiatry Clinician Educator Track Award - Shiyao Wang, MD
  • Innovations in Psychiatry Education – Gina Jamal, MD
  • Kenneth Krajweski, MD Excellence in Medical Student Education – Amanda Actor, MD
  • Research Award – Carola Rong, MD
  • Robert Guynn, MD, Graduating Resident Award – Carolina Garcia Olmos Calil, MD
  • Ann Saunders, MD, Excellence in Clinical Care – Blake Henchcliffe, MD
  • MindGames 2022 Team – Caroline McCool, MD; Hunter Hinman, MD; and Gauri Wable, MD, PhD

Upcoming Conferences!

Register now
Clinical trials
The following clinical trials are in operation, following all necessary safety guidelines. If you're interested, contact the appropriate study.

We are conducting a study to develop adaptive treatment interventions; that is, interventions that change based on how the participant is doing. Individuals seeking treatment for cocaine addiction may qualify to participate in this two-phase program.
Contact: 713-500-DRUG (3784)

This study aims to examine the safety and efficacy of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells as an adjunctive treatment of treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Patients will be assigned into a treatment or a placebo group.
Contact: 713-486-2627

The UTHealth Houston Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders at the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is collaborating with LivaNova, a global medical technology company, to start a new clinical trial – the “RECOVER study” – to help treat depression.
Contact: 713-486-2627

To see all open studies, visit our website.
Publications
In the news

Management of Chronic Pain and PTSD in Veterans With tDCS+Prolonged Exposure: A Pilot Study - Military Medicine - July 2022

Melba A Hernandez-Tejada, PhD, DHAKathryn E Cherry, MASheila A M Rauch, PhD, ABPPRon Acierno, PhDGabriel R Fries, PhD, Wendy Muzzy, MRA, MLISEllen J Teng, PhDBethany Wangelin, PhDHyochol Ahn, PhD, MSN


Epigenetic aging in psychiatry: clinical implications and therapeutic opportunities - Nature.com - July 2022

Camila N. C. Lima, Gabriel R. Fries




João de Quevedo, MD, PhD, and Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD, are researching the possible use of stem cells to effectively treat complex behavioral disorders.


Michael Weaver, MD, was interviewed by Newsmax Health Magazine about addiction treatment and recovery. 


Leslie Taylor, PhD, shared tips with FOX 26 News about how parents can prepare their children for the new school year.


Cristian Zeni, MD, PhD, was interviewed by Telemundo Houston Channel 47 on the same topic.


Bobby Nix, MD, talked to FOX 26 News about transcranial magnetic stimulation, a treatment for people with depression.


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Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

713-486-2500

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