Raul Gonzalez

Research topics

Matched from this investigator's NIH project titles and abstracts.

• Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
• Emotion and Affective Neuroscience
• Addiction and Substance Use

Active NIH awards

• 4/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT FIU

  5U01DA041156-11

  NIDA · FY 2025 · $2.0M

  Abstract Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The ABCD Research Consortium consists of 21 research sites across the country, a Coordinating Center, and a Data Analysis and Informatics Resource Center. In its first five years, under RFA-DA-15-015, ABCD enrolled a diverse sample of 11,878 9-10 year olds from across the consortium, and will track their biological and behavioral development through adolescence into young adulthood. All participants received a comprehensive baseline assessment, including state-of-the-art brain imaging, neuropsychological testing, bioassays, careful assessment of substance use, mental health, physical health, and culture and environment. A similar detailed assessment recurs every 2 years. Interim in-person annual interviews and mid-year telephone or mobile app assessments provide refined temporal resolution of developmental changes and life events that occur over time with minimal burden to participating youth and parents. Intensive efforts are made to keep the vast majority of participants involved with the study through adolescence and beyond, and retention rates thus far are very high. Neuroimaging has expanded our understanding of brain development from childhood into adulthood. Using this and other cutting-edge technologies, ABCD can determine how different kinds of youth experiences (such as sports, school involvement, extracurricular activities, videogames, social media, unhealthy sleep patterns, and vaping) interact with each other and with a child’s changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. Data, securely and privately shared with the scientific community, will enable investigators to: (1) describe individual developmental pathways in terms of neural, cognitive, emotional, and academic functioning, and influencing factors; (2) develop national standards of healthy brain development; (3) investigate the roles and interaction of genes and the environment on development; (4) examine how physical activity, sleep, screen time, sports injuries (including traumatic brain injuries), and other experiences influence brain development; (5) determine and replicate factors that influence mental health from childhood to young adulthood; (6) characterize relationships between mental health and substance use; and (7) specify how use of substances such as cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine affects developmental outcomes, and how neural, cognitive, emotional, and environmental factors influence the risk for adolescent substance use.

• Training Program in Adolescent Substance Use Disorders and Co-Occurring Mental and Behavioral Disorders

  2T32DA043449-06

  NIDA · FY 2025 · $89K

  Project Summary The NIDA T32 Training Program in Adolescent Substance Use Disorders and Co-Occurring Mental and Behavioral Disorders, established five years ago, has become increasingly vital due to rising youth mental health disorders and evolving substance use patterns. Rates of mental health disorders in youth have increased and patterns of substance use have changed. Our training mission aligns with the current U.S. Surgeon General’s focus on youth mental health and NIDA’s Strategic Plan on training the next generation of scientists and accelerating research on the interaction of substance use and related comorbidities. It also addresses the AAP-AACAP- CHA’s declaration of a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. Our program has adeptly addressed training in the complexities of research on SUD, mental health disorders, and how they co-occur. With a team of multidisciplinary research faculty, renowned for their expertise in adolescent substance abuse and related mental health disorders, the program trained 9 predoctoral and 6 postdoctoral fellows from several disciplines. T32 graduates have procured positions at top internship and training sites, as academic researchers, clinician researchers, principal investigators of NIH-funded grants, and producers of high-quality empirical studies. The renewal moves forward the program's comprehensive leadership, diverse training experiences, administrative oversight, and continuous enhancement of trainee resources. The Training Steering Committee, the External Advisory Committee, and exceptional Institutional Support have played pivotal roles in maintaining high standards and updating the program to meet emerging challenges in the field. Lessons learned from the initial funding cycle have led to a focus on training 15 predoctoral students from various related disciplines relevant to substance and mental health in youth in the renewal. Each trainee, under the guidance of a Primary Mentor and supported by Affiliated Faculty, will craft personalized training roadmaps through Individual Development Plans that focus on four key domains: developmental psychopathology, preventive interventions and dissemination, treatment and dissemination, and health services practices and implementation. Relevant additional training in neuroscience and advanced statistics is incorporated into the program along with robust training in in the responsible conduct of research and methods for enhancing reproducibility. As we seek renewal, our vision is to serve as a national exemplar in training the next generation of researchers in the intersection of substance use and adolescent mental health. The renewed T32 program at FIU will further expand its impact, integrating novel research methodologies and emerging trends in adolescent SUD and co-occurring disorders.

• 4/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT FIU

  5U01DA041156-10

  NIDA · FY 2024 · $2.0M

  Abstract Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The ABCD Research Consortium consists of 21 research sites across the country, a Coordinating Center, and a Data Analysis and Informatics Resource Center. In its first five years, under RFA-DA-15-015, ABCD enrolled a diverse sample of 11,878 9-10 year olds from across the consortium, and will track their biological and behavioral development through adolescence into young adulthood. All participants received a comprehensive baseline assessment, including state-of-the-art brain imaging, neuropsychological testing, bioassays, careful assessment of substance use, mental health, physical health, and culture and environment. A similar detailed assessment recurs every 2 years. Interim in-person annual interviews and mid-year telephone or mobile app assessments provide refined temporal resolution of developmental changes and life events that occur over time with minimal burden to participating youth and parents. Intensive efforts are made to keep the vast majority of participants involved with the study through adolescence and beyond, and retention rates thus far are very high. Neuroimaging has expanded our understanding of brain development from childhood into adulthood. Using this and other cutting-edge technologies, ABCD can determine how different kinds of youth experiences (such as sports, school involvement, extracurricular activities, videogames, social media, unhealthy sleep patterns, and vaping) interact with each other and with a child’s changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. Data, securely and privately shared with the scientific community, will enable investigators to: (1) describe individual developmental pathways in terms of neural, cognitive, emotional, and academic functioning, and influencing factors; (2) develop national standards of healthy brain development; (3) investigate the roles and interaction of genes and the environment on development; (4) examine how physical activity, sleep, screen time, sports injuries (including traumatic brain injuries), and other experiences influence brain development; (5) determine and replicate factors that influence mental health from childhood to young adulthood; (6) characterize relationships between mental health and substance use; and (7) specify how use of substances such as cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine affects developmental outcomes, and how neural, cognitive, emotional, and environmental factors influence the risk for adolescent substance use.

• 4/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT FIU

  5U01DA041156-09

  NIDA · FY 2023 · $2.0M

  Abstract Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The ABCD Research Consortium consists of 21 research sites across the country, a Coordinating Center, and a Data Analysis and Informatics Resource Center. In its first five years, under RFA-DA-15-015, ABCD enrolled a diverse sample of 11,878 9-10 year olds from across the consortium, and will track their biological and behavioral development through adolescence into young adulthood. All participants received a comprehensive baseline assessment, including state-of-the-art brain imaging, neuropsychological testing, bioassays, careful assessment of substance use, mental health, physical health, and culture and environment. A similar detailed assessment recurs every 2 years. Interim in-person annual interviews and mid-year telephone or mobile app assessments provide refined temporal resolution of developmental changes and life events that occur over time with minimal burden to participating youth and parents. Intensive efforts are made to keep the vast majority of participants involved with the study through adolescence and beyond, and retention rates thus far are very high. Neuroimaging has expanded our understanding of brain development from childhood into adulthood. Using this and other cutting-edge technologies, ABCD can determine how different kinds of youth experiences (such as sports, school involvement, extracurricular activities, videogames, social media, unhealthy sleep patterns, and vaping) interact with each other and with a child’s changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. Data, securely and privately shared with the scientific community, will enable investigators to: (1) describe individual developmental pathways in terms of neural, cognitive, emotional, and academic functioning, and influencing factors; (2) develop national standards of healthy brain development; (3) investigate the roles and interaction of genes and the environment on development; (4) examine how physical activity, sleep, screen time, sports injuries (including traumatic brain injuries), and other experiences influence brain development; (5) determine and replicate factors that influence mental health from childhood to young adulthood; (6) characterize relationships between mental health and substance use; and (7) specify how use of substances such as cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine affects developmental outcomes, and how neural, cognitive, emotional, and environmental factors influence the risk for adolescent substance use.

Earlier awards

• Training Program in Adolescent Substance Use Disorders and Co-Occurring Mental and Behavioral DisordersFY 2023 · $166K