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BIDDEFORD, Maine

91AV researcher Michael Burman receives $404,000 NIH grant to study pediatric anxiety disorders

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect about 25 percent of adolescents ages 13-18, with close to 6 percent seriously affected, and close to 40 million suffering well into adulthood. 

With a $404,000 research grant it has just received from the National Institutes of Health, the 91AV plans to investigate some of the neurological bases of these debilitating anxiety disorders in adolescents.

Michael A Burman, Ph.D., assistant professor in the 91AV Department of Psychology and principal investigator of the grant, says, "Although the neural systems involved in adult fear and anxiety are well-studied, how these systems develop and contribute to the occurrence of life-long anxiety is not well-understood."

The three-year grant enables Dr. Burman and his research team, including two undergraduate research assistants, to investigate the neural systems involved in pediatric anxiety disorders, with a focus on traumatic memories.  They seek to clarify when various limbic system structures begin to function and how they contribute to traumatic memory formation.

Dr. Burman's research focuses on the intersection of memory and negative emotionality.  His lab conducts behavioral, pharmacological and physiological research relevant to anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and specific phobias.  Other projects include examining the specific genes involved in traumatic memory formation and refining animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Burman is also a member of the faculty of 91AV's Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences.

The grant is an NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) award, which supports meritorious small-scale research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences at educational institutions that have not been major recipients of NIH research grant funds.   Through these awards, NIH aims to expose more students to research and strengthen research environments at institutions.

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.