Kevin Crombie, a dissertator in Dr. Kelli Koltyn’s Exercise Psychology Lab, was recently selected to receive a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH/NIH) for a project titled “The influence of exercise in reducing anxiety and fear responses via the endocannabinoid system in trauma exposed adults with and without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.”
The purpose of the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellowship award is to enable promising predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research in scientific health-related fields relevant to the mission of the NIMH. The proposed mentored research training is expected to clearly enhance the individual’s potential to develop into a productive, independent research scientist.
Crombie, along with his co-sponsors, Dr. Kelli Koltyn (UW – Madison, Dept. of Kinesiology) and Dr. Cecilia Hillard (Medical College of Wisconsin, Dept. of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Neuroscience Research Center) have designed a training plan that will primarily allow him to: enhance his knowledge on the endocannabinoid (eCB) system; receive clinical training in working with adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); become proficient in administering translational psychophysiological laboratory tests. Crombie will also receive training and guidance from Dr. Josh Cisler (UW – Madison, Dept. of Psychiatry), Dr. John Curtin (UW – Madison, Dept. of Psychology), Dr. Dan Grupe (UW – Madison, Center for Healthy Minds), Dr. Dane Cook (UW – Madison, Dept. of Kinesiology), Dr. Dan Bolt (UW – Madison, Dept. of Educational Psychology), and Dr. Simon Rosenbaum (University of New South Wales Sydney, School of Psychiatry).