Research
CURRENT
Death Cues, Necrophoresis, and Collective Risk-Avoidance in Carpenter Ants: Functional Parallels to Trauma-Linked Avoidance
This study investigates how carpenter ants detect nest-mate death via the loss of “life” cuticular volatiles and the rise of fatty-acid death cues (e.g., oleic acid), activating necrophoresis and transient alarm responses that purge corpses from foraging paths and nest galleries. Field and laboratory assays track changes in trail reinforcement and route selection after experimentally induced mortality, revealing a colony-level shift toward alternative, lower-risk foraging routes—an adaptive, decentralized process that mirrors the avoidance components of post-traumatic stress responses without the accompanying cognitive–emotional substrate. By linking chemical ecology, collective decision-making, and social immunity, the project provides a comparative model for studying how simple neural systems convert lethal experience into persistent risk-avoidance behaviour.
An Integrated Pilot Intervention Targeting Fentanyl-Induced Sedation ("Fentanyl Lean"): Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes
This ongoing research evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of a novel integrated intervention designed specifically to reduce fentanyl-induced sedation episodes, commonly known as "fentanyl lean," among high-risk individuals. Utilizing a combination of evidence-based Contingency Management (CM) and Trauma-Informed Brief counseling (TIB) approaches, the study aims to assess recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant satisfaction in an underserved, urban setting (Kensington, Philadelphia). Preliminary clinical outcomes, including reductions in sedation episodes and improved engagement in opioid treatment services, will inform the design of a subsequent larger-scale randomized effectiveness and implementation trial.
Intergenerational Impact of Parental Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders on Daughters: An Ongoing Systematic Review of Developmental Pathways and Intervention Targets
This ongoing review investigates how daughters’ emotional development and psychopathology are shaped by growing up with a parent who has borderline or narcissistic personality disorder. By mapping attachment disruptions, emotion-regulation pathways, and stress-related biomarkers, we aim to pinpoint high-leverage targets for early intervention. Findings will inform DBT-based family programs and policy guidelines that can attenuate intergenerational transmission of severe personality pathology.