Current Research

We have several ongoing projects oriented around the topics of trauma, posttraumatic stress, and substance use as they occur in various populations. These are described below.

We are often recruiting new participants for ongoing studies (see list below). In most cases, participation will involve asking you some about alcohol use and life experiences. Some of our studies take place in our lab, and may involve an interview with one of our research staff. Other studies are conducted “in real life” with you answering questions on a phone or a computer in the context of your daily life. Eligibility criteria are different for different studies. If you are interested in one of these studies and want to know if you might be eligible, please visit our Contact Us page. If you are looking to come to campus please review the Location page.

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The PAIRS Project (MPI with Livingston)      

A friend-based intervention to reduce alcohol-involved sexual assault risk (09/16/25 – 8/31/30). | Funding Agency: NIAAA                                 

Our lab developed a brief, dyad-based motivational intervention that empowers college women to protect themselves and one another from sexual violence. An initial study of this intervention found that participants who received the intervention engaged in more behaviors that protected them from sexual assault and were more ready to protect others from sexual assault, compared to people who did not receive any intervention [include a link to the publication].

In the PAIRS study, we are conducting a clinical trial comparing this intervention to a “treatment as usual” control (a sexual assault prevention course), with follow- ups extending for one year after the session to assess the intervention’s long-term impacts. The findings of this study will provide a stronger understanding of whether this intervention is helpful and feasible on a college campus, and whether it is more effective than what many college students currently receive.

The DIMENSIONS Project                                                  

Dimensions of emotion regulation in PTSD-related drinking risk: A proof of concept study (09/20/25 – 08/31/27). |  Funding Agency: NIAAA                                                   

The DIMENSIONS study’s primary aim is to examine how changes in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms are linked to drinking risk. In addition, we are examining emotional regulation (ER) and how it is influenced by changes to people’s PTSD symptoms throughout the day and whether ER predicts future drinking. In looking at ER, we are assessing both intentional ER (techniques people do to reduce their PTSD symptoms) and automatic ER ((what the body does without conscious thought in response to PTSD symptoms). Lastly, we aim to determine if the two different dimensions of ER vary in their effectiveness for reduction of different symptoms of PTSD.

To answer these questions, we are using heart-rate variability measured throughout the day as well as multiple daily surveys about PTSD symptoms, strategies used to reduce those symptoms, and drinking behavior. This approach allows us to capture information as it occurs in participants’ normal daily lives. Findings from this study will help us understand more about how PTSD symptoms lead to drinking and may support the development of new “in-the-moment” interventions to address PTSD-related drinking.

The COAST Project (MPI with Livingston)                               

Harnessing the power of military peers to reduce sexual violence and risky drinking in Navy sailors (09/19/22 – 09/14/25)                                                       

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Defense

The goal of this Research Level 1 study is to develop and provide a preliminary test of a peer-support motivational intervention to reduce the inter-related risks of 3 prevalent forms of sexual violence (harassment, sexual coercion, rape) and risky drinking in U.S. Navy Sailors.

Project CABS

The Cross-Cultural Addiction Study Team (CAST) is a collective of international scientists in the behavioral sciences with a shared vision of answering meaningful research questions regarding addictive behaviors (predominately substance use) that have important global policy, prevention, and/or treatment implications. It is led by Dr. Adrian Bravo, assistant professor at the College of William & Mary.

To date three studies have been proposed/completed that examine whether the relationships between risk/protective factors and substance misuse among college students differentiate cross-culturally. In our first project (Project CAS), we cross-culturally examined distal and proximal antecedents of alcohol misuse among college students from Argentina, Spain, and the U.S.  In our second study (Project CMS) we cross-culturally examined various antecedents to marijuana outcomes among college students from 5 countries (Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Netherlands, and the U.S.).  Our third study (Project CABS) is an ongoing study that examines college student co-use of various drugs (alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs) and outcomes in 7 countries (i.e., Argentina, England, Uruguay, Canada, Spain, South Africa, and the U.S.).

SPational Alcohol Cues and Emotions Study (SPACES)

The primary aim of the study is to examine the associations between alcohol cue environment and affect-related drinking. To do this, this study will use GPS information and daily surveys in order to capture these processes as they occur naturally in daily life. Findings from this study will further our understanding of when and why people drink, and how the environment that they are in may affect drinking. This knowledge may help to identify who is at most risk for negative alcohol experiences.

Here is a list of Mental Health referrals available in the Buffalo area (PDF).

Read the SPACES Project Google Privacy Policy.

Collaborative Grants with Others Outside of UB

R00/AA029728 (Zaso, PI)                                                                                                     

Identification and characterization of in-the-moment cognitive antecedents to alcohol use among drinkers with PTSD (5/31/24-5/30/27).

Funding Agency: NIAAA

The objective of this work is to use intensive EMA assessments to understand real-time alcohol promoting cognitions in individuals with trauma and PTSD.

1R21AA032582-01 (Zaso, PI)                                                                             

Probing paradoxical alcohol effects on approach (versus avoidance) of trauma processing in drinkers with PTSD (9/18/25 -8/31/2027).

Funding Agency: NIAAA | Role: Co-I

This mixed methods study explores how drinkers with posttraumatic stress (PTSD) may process traumatic memories via alcohol in naturalistic social drinking events.