Current Projects
Native HEALTH
This study will develop from the ground-up and evaluate through randomized controlled trial (RCT) a culturally-grounded, trauma-informed alcohol intervention for one reserve-dwelling First Nations group. It is funded by a 3-year grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R34AA028587; PIs: Weiss & Spillane).
ROAR
This study will integrate data from ecological momentary assessment (EMA) with real-time biometric data (e.g., heart rate variability, electrodermal response) from the Empatica EmbracePlus to examine longitudinal changes in co-morbid posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms on risk for return to opioid use following residential substance use treatment—and the influence of physiology. It is funded by a 2-year Project Leader Grant from the Center of Biomedical Research and Excellence (COBRE) On Opioids and Overdose (funded by National Institutes of Health Grant P20GM125507; PI: Weiss).
LIFT
This study will leverage intensive longitudinal data to evaluate dynamic and idiographic processes among positive emotional processes, alcohol use, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms as they unfold in daily life among trauma-exposed individuals in the community. It is funded by a 2-year grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R21AA030686; PI: Weiss).
Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Preventing PTSD
This study will examine the utility of cranial electrotherapy stimulation for the prevention of PTSD in first responders. It is funded by a 1-year Team Science Administrative Supplement from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (PIs: Fukuda, van’t Wout-Frank & Weiss; P20GM130452-05S1 ).
U-TrAC
This study will examine the acceptability and feasibility of a transdermal alcohol biosensor (BACtrack Skyn) for studying alcohol use following residential alcohol use disorder treatment. It is funded by a 1-year Internal Grant from the University of Rhode Island (PI: Weiss).
STRIDE
This study will utilize ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine momentary associations among depression, racial stress and symptoms, and alcohol use in Black adults in the community. It is funded by a 2-year grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (F31AA030502; PI: Thomas; Sponsors: Weiss, Ahluwalia, & Miller).
RESPOND
This study will utilize ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine real-time relations among posttraumatic stress symptoms, opioid use, and suicide among trauma-exposed individuals in the community. It is funded by a 2-year grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (F31DA058324; PI: Raudales; Sponsors: Weiss & Armey).
SIP
This study will use an alcohol administration and emotion induction paradigm to investigate the effects of positive and negative emotion states on sexual assault risk perception during acute alcohol intoxication. It is funded by a 2-year grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (F31AA031164; PI: Kiefer; Sponsors: Weiss, Orchowski, & Parks).
Race and Sex as Moderators of Harm Reduction Pharmacobehavioral Treatment Outcomes for Alcohol Use Disorder among People Experiencing Homelessness
This study will utilize a mixed-methods design to examine the acceptability and efficacy of a randomized controlled trial using harm reduction treatment and extended-release naltrexone among people experiencing homelessness and alcohol use disorder compared to treatment as usual for race (North American Indigenous, Black, and white) and sex (female and male). The Harm Reduction Treatment with Pharmacotherapy study (HaRP; R01AA022309; PI: Collins) will be used to achieve these goals (F31AA029274; PI: Goldstein; Sponsors: Weiss, Collins, & Feldstein Ewing).
Recently Completed Projects
Project RiSE
The goal of this study was to examine negative and positive emotional experiences in posttraumatic stress symptoms and related substance use and HIV/sexual risk among community women who experience intimate partner violence and use substances. These associations were examined in the laboratory (subjective, behavioral, and physiological measurement) and in the real world (interactive voice technology 3 times a day for 30 days). This study was funded by a 5-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (K23DA039327; PI: Weiss).
Project TOARS
The goals of this study were two-fold: (1) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of ecological momentary assessment in the investigation of opioid use outcomes (e.g., cravings, use, relapse, overdose) among trauma-exposed individuals who misuse opioids in the community; and (2) to explore day-level predictors of opioid use outcomes among trauma-exposed individuals who misuse opioids in the community with and without PTSD. These associations were examined using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) 5 times a day for 30 days. This study was funded by a 1-year Pilot Project Grant from the Center of Biomedical Research and Excellence (COBRE) On Opioids and Overdose (funded by National Institutes of Health Grant P20GM125507; PI: Weiss).
Project START
The goal of this study were two-fold: (1) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of ecological momentary assessment in the investigation of return to use among trauma-exposed individuals who were exiting residential substance use treatment; and (2) to explore day-level predictors of return to use among trauma-exposed individuals who were exiting residential substance use treatment. These associations were examined using ecological momentary assessment 5 times a day for 30 days. This study was funded by a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation (PI: Weiss).
Predicting Substance Use among Military Veterans with a Positive MST Screen: A Machine Learning Approach
The goals of this study were to: (1) explicate the directional relation between military sexual trauma (MST) and substance use, and (2) employ machine learning methods to develop an algorithm to optimize detection of substance use outcomes in military personnel with a history of MST. The Army STARRS pre/post-deployment study (PPDS), a large, prospective military dataset, was utilized to achieve these goals (F31DA051167; PI: Forkus; Mentors: Weiss, Jackson, & Rosellini).