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Investigators

Sudie Back, Ph.D.

Dr. Back's primary research focus is the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD) and co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She leads a variety of studies to examine SUD and PTSD, including randomized controlled trials of behavioral as well as pharmacologic interventions, laboratory-based investigations, and neuroimaging studies.

Elizabeth Santa Ana, Ph.D.

Dr. Santa Ana is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC and the Evidence-Based Training Coordinator for the VISN 7 Homeless Program at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a core investigator within HEROIC at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and she collaborates with other MUSC faculty in Psychiatry on projects involving PTSD, substance use disorder, relapse prevention, and chronic pain for patients with substance use and other co-existing disorders.

Delisa Brown, Ph.D.

Dr. Brown is a Research Assistant Professor in Addiction Sciences at MUSC. Her research focuses disparities in substance use disorders and comorbid stress-related conditions ( e.g., PTSD, trauma, early childhood adversity) that impact women and African Americans. She is currently examining the impact of race-related stress among individuals with alcohol use disorder and PTSD. She is also conducting a laboratory study to investigate sex differences in the impact of early childhood stress on opioid craving among men and women with opioid use disorder.

Tanya Saraiya, Ph.D.

Dr. Saraiya is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at MUSC. She is director of the PATH lab. Her research aims to address underlying trauma and PTSD co-occurring with substance use with a focus on health disparities and ongoing inequities based on identity, culture, race, and context. She has been funded by several NIH awards and is passionate about mentoring individuals in the academic sciences. For more updates, find her on X @DrTanyaSaraiya.

Study Therapists

Chloe Ambrose, LISW

Liz Ash

Study Personnel

Amber Anderson

Amber is a Research Assistant for Dr. Brown's CARE-AA Study and Dr. Back's COPE Study. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has worked on several projects and programs in the IMPACT lab related to trauma and substance use since 2022. She plans to further her education in the field of psychology.

Hailey Britt

Brianna Cupp

Roisin Cahill

Roisin is the Research Assistant for Dr. Back’s COPE Study for veterans with PTSD and AUD. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Clemson University. Roisin is interested in therapy interventions for PTSD and enjoys being a member of the impact lab team.

Anjinetta Johnson, PAC.

Anjinetta graduated from MUSC's Physician's Assistant Program in 2001. She has been involved in behavioral health research since 2010 in the role of Medical Clinician for Research Studies. She performs history and physical exams on research participants to help determine if they are healthy enough to be a part of the study. She also dispenses study medications, and monitors and follows up on study-related adverse events.

Amanda De La Cruz

Amanda De La Cruz is a Research Program Assistant for Dr. Back’s Cognitive Processing Therapy + Relapse Prevention study. Amanda recently graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. She plans on furthering her education with an interest in the comorbidity between addiction and PTSD and its influence on the neurochemistry and morphology of the brain.

Kat Roberts

Kat Roberts joined the IMPACT Lab in August 2023. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Hamilton College in May 2022. She is the Program Coordinator for Dr. Back’s Cognitive Processing Therapy + Relapse Prevention intervention aimed at reducing alcohol use and PTSD severity among individuals with co-occurring AUD/PTSD. In the future, Kat hopes to pursue a graduate degree in social work, specializing in substance abuse in at-risk populations.

IMPACT Lab Manager

Stacey Sellers, MS

Stacey is the Program Manager for the group. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Neuroscience from the College of Charleston and her Masters of Clinical and Translational Science from Creighton University. She has worked in research at MUSC and Creighton University for over 15 years, focusing her work on the treatment of substance use disorders.