CAS Researchers Lead the Conversation at ISTSS 2025
The Center of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies (CAS) faculty and staff played a leading role at the 2025 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Annual Meeting in Baltimore, themed “Frontiers in Traumatic Stress: Global Perspectives and Creative Solutions.” The conference brought together researchers, clinicians, and advocates from around the world to explore emerging innovations in trauma science and care. Representing CAS’s longstanding commitment to advancing trauma-informed and equity-centered research, the team shared cutting-edge work at the intersection of trauma, substance use, and health disparities. Across multiple sessions, the team demonstrated CAS’s leadership in translating research into practice, fostering collaboration, and addressing the complex realities of trauma.
Highlights of CAS Contributions at ISTSS 2025:
- Dr. Denise Hien, Project Harmony Principal Investigator, led a Pre-Meeting Institute titled “Enhancing Research Impact Through FAIR, FACT, and CARE Principles: Stewardship, Equity, and Collaboration.” Her session emphasized equitable data sharing, transparency, and responsible stewardship in trauma research, principles central to Project Harmony’s mission of open and inclusive science. She also chaired a panel discussion, “Drivers of Racial Inequities in Youth Substance Use, Exposure to Violence, and Trauma,” along with CAS affiliated presenters Dr. Carolyn Sartor, Dr. Jordan Gette, Dr. Alexandria Bauer, Dr. Chantel Ebrahimi-Azadegan and Dr. Lissette Saavedra, which explored systemic and structural contributors to racial disparities and highlighted the importance of trauma-informed prevention and intervention strategies. Dr. Hien also served as a discussant for another discussion panel “Frontiers in treating severe comorbid PTSD-SUD: Meeting clients where they are,” with Chair Dr. Rebecca Schacht and presenters Dr. Kevin Wenzel, Dr. Nicole Weiss, and Dr. Teresa Lopez Castro who is also a CAS affiliate. This panel focused on the integration of evidence-based PTSD treatments into substance use disorder (SUD) care settings, addressing the common co-occurrence of these conditions. Dr. Hien has also recently become an elected member of the ISTSS Board of Directors.
- Dr. Emmanuel Thomas, CAS post doctoral fellow, presented findings from “Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination and Alcohol Craving Among Black Adults in the Community,” a study that examined the psychological effects of discrimination and its links to substance use behaviors. His work adds to CAS’s growing portfolio of studies addressing the intersections of trauma, and public health.
- Steven Curto and Tasha Bulgin, CAS Research Assistants, presented findings from “Readiness for Implementing Trauma Processing Therapy in a Community Substance Use Treatment Program: A Qualitative Study,” a study that examined the opinions of staff about the implementation of trauma-focused treatment, specifically Prolonged Exposure, in an SUD outpatient treatment facility. Their presentation identified key facilitators and barriers to integrating trauma-focused therapies into real-world community settings, reinforcing CAS’s applied research mission.
These sessions generated rich discussion, underscoring how CAS’s interdisciplinary approach (combining clinical research, community engagement, and implementation science) is shaping the future of trauma-informed care.
Beyond the formal presentations, the team gathered with others for a celebratory dinner to reflect on the conference and plan future collaborations. The gathering reflected the spirit of CAS: fostering connection, shared purpose, and collective momentum toward a more trauma-responsive world.
The presence and leadership of CAS at ISTSS 2025 exemplify its growing influence in the global trauma research community, bridging science and practice to promote healing, equity, and resilience across systems of care.