iSTAR – Imaging Study of Trauma and Resilience

Principal Investigator: Chris Larson & Terri deRoon-Cassini

This NIMH-funded R01 project seeks to identify acute post-trauma cognitive and affective markers and associated neural circuitry that predict poor post-trauma outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder. This study is based on earlier work conducted by Dr. Larson and Dr. deRoon-Cassini showing that dysregulation of emotion regulation circuitry during the acute post-trauma period predicts risk for chronic PTSD symptoms. We collect imaging, biospecimen, clinical, cognitive, behavioral, and symptom data at two weeks following trauma exposure and follow participants for up to 2 years. Our team includes members from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Marquette University.