The CCN Administrative Core, develops design/statistical, neuroimaging, and brain stimulation resources focusing particularly on COBRE projects and new pilot research. The CCN Administrative Core works closely with our partners. These include IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Centers and IDeA-Clinical and Translational (CTR) programs in Rhode Island, collaborating entities at/affiliated with Brown University including the Brown Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (DPHB), Carney Institute for Brain Science, COBRE Center for Central Nervous System Function (CCNSF), Advance Clinical and Translational Research (Advance-CTR) and the Providence VA Medical Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology (CfNN).
Director, COBRE Center for Neuromodulation
Dr. Benjamin Greenberg has a BA in psychology from Amherst College, a PhD in neurosciences from UC San Diego, and an MD from the University of Miami, with psychiatry residency at Johns Hopkins. He then led adult OCD research at NIMH, where he performed the first transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) study in that illness. At Butler Hospital and Brown since 2000, he has focused on invasive neurosurgeries including ventral capsulotomy and deep brain stimulation (DBS). FDA humanitarian approval of DBS for intractable OCD in 2009 was based on that work. His NIH funding has included R21, R01, U01, P50, and P20 grants. He has a secondary focus in psychiatric genetics. As a clinical psychiatrist, he has treated OCD for thirty years; and over the past five years has also treated PTSD, he previously led Butler outpatient services. He directs the COBRE Center for Neuromodulation at Butler Hospital and the RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology the Providence VAMC (PVAMC), in both roles focusing brain circuit-based approaches to mechanisms of illness, treatment and rehabilitation.
Deputy Director, COBRE CCN; Director, Neuromodulation & Neuroimaging Core
Linda L. Carpenter, MD is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Chief of the Mood Disorders Program at Butler Hospital. She completed her undergraduate psychology degree at the University of Michigan, her MD from the University of Pennsylvania. She did an internship in internal medicine, psychiatry residency training, and a clinical neuroscience research fellowship all at Yale University. She joined the Brown Psychiatry faculty at Brown in 1997 and has continued her path as a physician-scientist investigating the neurobiology of, and new treatments for, major depression and other mood and anxiety disorders at Butler Hospital. She led a 10-year, federally funded translational research program focusing on the development of laboratory biomarkers signaling risk for mood/anxiety disorders, and understanding the impact of early life stress on adult biology. She has also conducted a number of randomized clinical trials sponsored by industry and NIH, investigating investigational drugs and devices for treating depression, including esketamine, Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). She is the founding Director of the Butler Hospital TMS Clinic and Neuromodulation Research Facility. Her lab evaluates new neurostimulation treatments and their mechanisms, using both EEG and fMRI. In addition to her role as Deputy Director of the Butler COBRE Center, she is Director of the Neuromodulation and Neuroimaging Core. She works with the COBRE Project Leaders, Brown trainees, and other Brown-affiliated research faculty who incorporate noninvasive brain stimulation techniques into their clinical mechanisms and therapeutics research. Dr. Carpenter also chairs the Butler Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Associate Director
Dr. Abrantes completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Harvard University and her PhD in clinical psychology at San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. She completed her clinical psychology internship at Brown and stayed on for a NIAAA T32 postdoctoral fellowship in Addiction Treatment at Brown’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. Dr. Abrantes is currently a Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Co-Director of Behavioral Medicine and Addiction Research at Butler Hospital. Dr. Abrantes' research is focused on the development and testing of novel interventions for decreasing relapse risk among individuals with alcohol and other drug use disorders, including nicotine dependence. Her current projects include the use of text messaging, development of smartphone apps, neurostimulation (e.g., tDCS), and EMA/EMI approaches. In addition, Dr. Abrantes’ also conducts research in the area of physical activity promotion for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. This research includes the testing of Fitbit-supported lifestyle physical activity, physical activity apps, and peer-facilitated approaches. Dr. Abrantes is committed to mentoring trainees and junior faculty, serving as a research mentor on two of Brown’s T32 fellowship programs and as primary or co-mentor for several NIH K awardees. Dr. Abrantes has published over 130 peer-reviewed papers and has been the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on over 25 NIH-funded grants. She regularly serves on NIH scientific review panels and is on the editorial board of several academic journals, including serving as Associate Editor of Mental Health and Physical Activity.
Center Administrator
Kristen Fortin-Ashburne obtained a BA in psychology (sociology minor) from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and MBA in Global Business Leadership (Organizational Leadership concentration) from Johnson & Wales University. She joined the CCN leadership team with over sixteen years’ experience in research, health care system administration, operations and project management. Prior to joining CCN, Ms. Fortin-Ashburne was Senior Clinical Research Technologist in Dr. Mary Carskadon’s E.P. Bradley Sleep Research Laboratory located on the Butler Hospital campus. Following her MBA, she was the clinical supervisor in the high-volume UMass Memorial Sleep Disorders Center. Later, she held the position of operations supervisor managing the overall business and academic operations of a large medical center in an underserved area, Tri River Family Health Center of the Blackstone Valley. In addition to CCN programmatic grant management, Ms. Fortin-Ashburne works closely with institutional senior leadership (notably our Hospital Advisory Committee) to streamline processes, enhance growth, and add efficiency to improve operations and quality of services.
Deputy Director, COBRE CCN; Director, Neuromodulation & Neuroimaging Core
Linda L. Carpenter, MD is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Chief of the Mood Disorders Program at Butler Hospital. She completed her undergraduate psychology degree at the University of Michigan, her MD from the University of Pennsylvania. She did an internship in internal medicine, psychiatry residency training, and a clinical neuroscience research fellowship all at Yale University. She joined the Brown Psychiatry faculty at Brown in 1997 and has continued her path as a physician-scientist investigating the neurobiology of, and new treatments for, major depression and other mood and anxiety disorders at Butler Hospital. She led a 10-year, federally funded translational research program focusing on the development of laboratory biomarkers signaling risk for mood/anxiety disorders, and understanding the impact of early life stress on adult biology. She has also conducted a number of randomized clinical trials sponsored by industry and NIH, investigating investigational drugs and devices for treating depression, including esketamine, Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). She is the founding Director of the Butler Hospital TMS Clinic and Neuromodulation Research Facility. Her lab evaluates new neurostimulation treatments and their mechanisms, using both EEG and fMRI. In addition to her role as Deputy Director of the Butler COBRE Center, she is Director of the Neuromodulation and Neuroimaging Core. She works with the COBRE Project Leaders, Brown trainees, and other Brown-affiliated research faculty who incorporate noninvasive brain stimulation techniques into their clinical mechanisms and therapeutics research. Dr. Carpenter also chairs the Butler Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Associate Director, Neuromodulation & Neuroimaging Core
Dr. Philip is the Director of the Psychiatric Neuromodulation Clinic, VA Providence Healthcare System; Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Co-Director of the Neuromodulation & Neuroimaging Core, COBRE Center for Neuromodulation. Dr. Philip received his BSc from McGill University and his MD from Albany Medical College where he graduated AOA and with a Distinction in the Study of Biomedical Ethics. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Brown University, followed by T32 and Neuromodulation Fellowships at Brown. Dr. Philip’s research interest is to understand therapeutic mechanisms of non-invasive brain stimulation for psychiatric illnesses and to use this knowledge to improve the treatments of today and design the interventions of tomorrow. Primary areas of study are PTSD, depression, and suicide.
MRF Liaison
Dr. Sanes serves as the Brown University MRI Research Facility Liason. He obtained his B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Psychology, M.A. University of Rochester, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience specialization and Ph. D. University of Rochester, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience specialization. He is a Professor of Neuroscience and Director of MRI Research for Brown University.
Neuromodulation Research Manager
Mr. Eric Tirrell completed his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Rhode Island. He has extensive experience with all aspects of TMS research and he is well versed in operating Neurostar, Magstim, Nexstim, and other investigational TMS device systems using a variety of TMS protocols. In addition to his role on the COBRE Neuromodulation & Neuroimaging Core, Eric also serves as the Research Coordinator for Butler’s Neuromodulation Research Facility. He works with a number of Brown University-based faculty and with project leaders and research staff in Butler’s COBRE Center for Neuromodulation to incorporate noninvasive brain stimulation techniques into their clinical research. He has had extensive training in the collection of physiological data and brain imaging for biomarker development and investigating brain network function and connectivity. His goals are to help develop optimized individual neuromodulation approaches for depression and to ultimately use TMS as a treatment modality for a wide range of conditions and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Co-Director, Design & Analysis Core
Dr. Jones obtained a BA in Psychology, George Washington University and Sc.D Psychiatric Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health. Dr. Rich Jones is an epidemiologist and methodologist. He is the Co-Director of the COBE CCN Design and Analysis Core and Director of the Quantitative Science Program (QSP) at the Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, the Department of Neurology. His research areas concern the cognitive reserve hypothesis and measurement and methodology in the clinical neurosciences.
Director, Design & Analysis Core
Dr. Barredo holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Washington (2006) and a PhD in Neuroscience from Brown University (2013). She is a Research Health Scientist, VA Providence Healthcare System; Assistant Professor (Research), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University and Director of COBRE Design & Analysis Core. Her research uses neuroimaging and computational approaches to investigate brain signatures of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, disorders of emotional regulation, and treatment response.
Research Data Manager
Asi (Polly) Gobin is Research Data Manager, Ms. Asi Polly Gobin obtained her BA in Mathematics from Tufts University and has worked in Brown University-affiliated research for over 20 years. She provides database creation and management for COBRE-funded investigators and develops and maintains metrics for tracking the use of and services of the Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation Core. Polly contributes expertise in developing data collection systems, data processing, and quality assurance, preparing datasets for analysis, and project operations.
Associate Research Scientist
W. Luke Acuff holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Mississippi State University and an ScM (MS) in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University. As an Associate Research Scientist for the Design and Analysis Core, his work primarily concerns electrophysiological and neuroimaging data management, research software development, and original research in computational modeling and psychiatric biomarker detection.
Research Coordinator
Hannah Swearingen is a Data Scientist at the Providence VA Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology (CfNN) and COBRE Center for Neuromodulation. Hannah coordinates several neuroimaging projects and supports investigators and their study staff with neuroimaging and scientific computing projects, including fMRI data collection, preprocessing, and analysis. Her research interests include using neuroimaging and computational approaches to investigate brain signatures of psychiatric disorders and treatment response. Hannah is also interested in leveraging scientific computing methods to develop best practices in data analysis and sharing in order to promote scientific reproducibility.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Staff Scientist
Dr. Gonsalves is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Core Staff Scientist for the Providence VA Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology (CfNN) and COBRE Center for Neuromodulation. She joined CfNN in October 2023 after receiving her PhD in Neuroscience from Brown University in July 2023; she also holds an ScM in Behavioral and Social Health Sciences and ScB in Cognitive Neuroscience with Honors from Brown. Dr. Gonsalves uses proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the etiology and neuromodulatory treatment of affective disorders. Her work with Dr. Barredo will continue to expand on her doctoral work in these areas and also investigate the neural underpinnings of suicidality and personality disorders in veterans.
The Hospital Advisory Committee (HAC) and Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) of the COBRE Center for Neuromodulation provide additional insight on COBRE development and implementation. The HAC members represent different areas of expertise relevant to Butler Hospital, Care New England hospital operations, and infrastructure design. The IAC members represent different areas of expertise relevant to partnering institutions and provide oversight on themes and operations, and are committed to the development of the Center. The primary role of the IAC has been to support the Executive Committee during COBRE implementation with four main advisory goals: 1) providing operational feedback based; 2) identifying cross-institutional resources and recommendations to enhance COBRE Cores, investigator projects, and mentorship program, and 3) guiding implementation and business plan toward a Phase II and Phase III.
Stephen Burke, MBA, Vice President of Finance, Butler Hospital, Care New England
Mary Marran, MA, OT, MBA, Chair, President and Chief Operating Officer, Butler Hospital, Care New England
Steven Brown, ITILv3, IT Site Manager Academic and Research, Care New England
Guarav Choudhary, MD, Professor of Medicine, Associate Chief of Staff (Research), Providence VA Medical Center; Director of the CardioPulmonary Vascular Biology Center for Biomedical Research Excellence, Providence VA Medical Center
John Davenport, PhD, Managing Director, Brown Institute of Brain Science, Brown University
Lawrence Price, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University
Steve Rasmussen, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior; Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School Brown University
Sharon Rounds, MD, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Director, Advance-CTR Brown University
The External Advisory Committee (EAC) of the COBRE Center for Neuromodulation primary role is to participate in COBRE Center evaluation, including an evaluation of the Project Leaders’ progress, the effectiveness of the COBRE mentorship, and the usefulness of Core services. EAC members have been chosen for their robust backgrounds as leading investigators and mentors, their expertise in neuromodulation, and areas of expertise that are complementary to the COBRE projects.
Erika Forbes, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Psychology and Clinical and Translational Science University of Pittsburgh
Mark George, MD, Endowed Chair, Layton McCurdy Endowed Chair in Psychiatry Medical University of South Carolina
Stephan Taylor, MD, EAC Chair, Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Research Regulatory Affairs University of Michigan
Eric Wassermann, MD, Investigator, Behavioral Neurology National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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