Mental Health, Brain, and Behavioral Science

Research Day

Research Day is an opportunity for University faculty, students, and staff and industry collaborators to learn about and share research from across the University of Utah related to mental health, brain and behavioral science. The event will include a series of speakers and a poster session, including a session about the funding landscape before lunch with a round table discussion over lunch. Awards will be given for best posters in five categories: High School/Undergraduate Students, Graduate/Medical Students, Post Docs/Residents/Fellows, Junior Faculty, and Other Researcher (Staff, Volunteer, Affiliate, Etc).

Registration is free and required for attendance, networking roundtable discussions, and/or poster submission.

Date & Time

Friday, October 3, 2025
9 am to 3 pm
Doors open at 8 am for breakfast

Location

Cleone Peterson Eccles Alumni House,
155 S. Central Campus Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Get directions

Meet the keynote speakers

Adam Gordon, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASM

Professor, Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah

David J. Bearss, PhD

CEO, Halia Therapeutics

Robert Silver, MD

Professor and Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah

Explore the 2025 Program

8 am

Doors Open and Breakfast

9 am

Welcome and Introduction

Adrian Rothenfluh, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Huntsman Mental Health Institute

9:10 am

Opening Remarks

Erin Rothwell, PhD, Vice President for Research, School of Medicine

9:25 am

Session 1: Addiction and Substance Use Disorder

9:25 am

Adam Gordon, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM, Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Expanding Addiction Research at the University of Utah: Programs and Opportunities

9:55 am

Elizabeth Howell, MD, MS, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Entering the World of Clinical Addiction Training Grants

10:05 am

Audrey Jones, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Integration of Behavioral Health Services in Primary Care Settings That Serve Homeless Veterans

10:15 am

Adrian Rothenfluh, PhD, MSCI, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Can Addiction Be Modeled in Flies? And Why Should It?

10:25 am

Break and Poster Viewing

11:10 am

Session 2: Alternative funding

11:10 am

Shanna Futral, Associate Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations Office
Greetings from the University of Utah, Corporate and Foundation Relations Team

11:15 am

David Bearrs, PhD,CEO, Halia Therapeutics
From Lab to Launch: Bridging Academia and Industry

11:45 am

Brian Mickey, PhD, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Funding Pathways for Interventional Psychiatry Research

12:10 pm

Lunch and Discussion Session

1:40 pm

Announcement of Poster Awards

2 pm

Session 3: Maternal Mental Health

2 pm

Robert M. Silver, MD, Professor and Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Pregnancy Loss, Obstetric Trauma, and Mental Health

2:30 pm

Rana Jawish, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Perinatal Mental Health

2:40 pm

Torri Metz, MD, MS, Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
The ELEVATE Center: Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality from Substance Use Disorder in Utah

2:50 pm

Gwen Latendresse, PhD , Professor, College of Nursing
Prevention of Perinatal Depression Among At-Risk Individuals Through Integration of a Multimedia, Web-Based intervention in a Large Academic Health Center