Chris Kahler
@chriskahlerphd.bsky.social
Psychologist, Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Director, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health. Vice Prez, Research Society on Alcohol. Intervention researcher: alcohol, smoking, HIV
New paper with Tayla von Ash and colleagues offering guidance for how researchers can to "contribute to an antiracist public health agenda in pursuit of health equity regardless of content focus." @brownpublichealth.bsky.social @browncaas.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
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journals.sagepub.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
New paper with Tayla von Ash and colleagues offering guidance for how researchers can to "contribute to an antiracist public health agenda in pursuit of health equity regardless of content focus." @brownpublichealth.bsky.social @browncaas.bsky.social
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
I am very grateful for the dedicated spirit of service that permeates our faculty, staff, and trainees at @browncaas.bsky.social in @brownpublichealth.bsky.social. I could not be more proud. We can't improve our world unless we give something of ourselves. #HappyThanksgiving!
We’re thrilled to celebrate our current and past members who have stepped into new editor roles with Addiction. CAAS leadership and expertise continue to shape the field.
👏 Congrats to all — and thank you for advancing rigorous, thoughtful scholarship in addiction science!
👏 Congrats to all — and thank you for advancing rigorous, thoughtful scholarship in addiction science!
November 26, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I am very grateful for the dedicated spirit of service that permeates our faculty, staff, and trainees at @browncaas.bsky.social in @brownpublichealth.bsky.social. I could not be more proud. We can't improve our world unless we give something of ourselves. #HappyThanksgiving!
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Congratulations to Lauren Micalizzi, CAAS Assistant Professor, on her election to the Research Society on Marijuana (RSMj) Board! 🎉 @laurenmic.bsky.social @researchmj.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Congratulations to Lauren Micalizzi, CAAS Assistant Professor, on her election to the Research Society on Marijuana (RSMj) Board! 🎉 @laurenmic.bsky.social @researchmj.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Kahler
It's an experiment that's been conducted countless times: What happens when you mix alcohol & cannabis?
But it hasn't been tried by scientists in a lab, carefully calibrating subjects intake of alcohol and research-grade marijuana. Until now.
@janemetrik.bsky.social
@browncaas.bsky.social
But it hasn't been tried by scientists in a lab, carefully calibrating subjects intake of alcohol and research-grade marijuana. Until now.
@janemetrik.bsky.social
@browncaas.bsky.social
Smoking Weed Has a Surprising Effect on Drinking
Researchers set up a makeshift bar on a college campus to test how much people wanted to drink after they smoked cannabis.
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:36 PM
It's an experiment that's been conducted countless times: What happens when you mix alcohol & cannabis?
But it hasn't been tried by scientists in a lab, carefully calibrating subjects intake of alcohol and research-grade marijuana. Until now.
@janemetrik.bsky.social
@browncaas.bsky.social
But it hasn't been tried by scientists in a lab, carefully calibrating subjects intake of alcohol and research-grade marijuana. Until now.
@janemetrik.bsky.social
@browncaas.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Kahler
And all of this connects directly to the discussion here.
Right now, NIH institute directors are civil servants and experienced, top-expert scientists. That is the way NIH has run for decades.
It looks like Trump and Vought are planning to politicize those positions.
Right now, NIH institute directors are civil servants and experienced, top-expert scientists. That is the way NIH has run for decades.
It looks like Trump and Vought are planning to politicize those positions.
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 20, 2025 at 11:14 PM
And all of this connects directly to the discussion here.
Right now, NIH institute directors are civil servants and experienced, top-expert scientists. That is the way NIH has run for decades.
It looks like Trump and Vought are planning to politicize those positions.
Right now, NIH institute directors are civil servants and experienced, top-expert scientists. That is the way NIH has run for decades.
It looks like Trump and Vought are planning to politicize those positions.
Reposted by Chris Kahler
The American Academy of Pediatrics is denouncing false claims about autism posted on CDC website by Trump officials: "Anyone repeating this harmful myth is misinformed or intentionally trying to mislead parents." www.aap.org/en/news-room...
Statement by AAP President Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP on Changes to CDC’s Website on Autism
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has been changed to promote false information suggesting vaccines cause autism. Since 1998, independent researchers across seven countries have ...
www.aap.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The American Academy of Pediatrics is denouncing false claims about autism posted on CDC website by Trump officials: "Anyone repeating this harmful myth is misinformed or intentionally trying to mislead parents." www.aap.org/en/news-room...
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Proud of our research team at Brown! @rachelgunn.bsky.social @chriskahlerphd.bsky.social, Elizabeth Aston, Robert Swift, and James MacKillop psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/...
Exciting new research from CAAS Professor Jane Metrik about "California sober" -- can cannabis use curb short-term drinking? Follow the link to read more!
"California sober"—ditching alcohol in favor of #cannabis—is gaining popularity.🍸
Follow the link for the findings of the first ever, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test whether smoking cannabis directly changes alcohol consumption⤵️ https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-19/cannabis-alcohol
Follow the link for the findings of the first ever, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test whether smoking cannabis directly changes alcohol consumption⤵️ https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-19/cannabis-alcohol
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Proud of our research team at Brown! @rachelgunn.bsky.social @chriskahlerphd.bsky.social, Elizabeth Aston, Robert Swift, and James MacKillop psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/...
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Exciting new research from CAAS Professor Jane Metrik about "California sober" -- can cannabis use curb short-term drinking? Follow the link to read more!
"California sober"—ditching alcohol in favor of #cannabis—is gaining popularity.🍸
Follow the link for the findings of the first ever, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test whether smoking cannabis directly changes alcohol consumption⤵️ https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-19/cannabis-alcohol
Follow the link for the findings of the first ever, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test whether smoking cannabis directly changes alcohol consumption⤵️ https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-11-19/cannabis-alcohol
November 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Exciting new research from CAAS Professor Jane Metrik about "California sober" -- can cannabis use curb short-term drinking? Follow the link to read more!
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Update on a significant development NIH grant terms.
On 10/1, a change to grant making regs went into effect that gives NIH more power to terminate grants for policy reasons.
But to use this power, new grant terms must include specific language. See @aniloza.bsky.social w/ the story from July.
1/
On 10/1, a change to grant making regs went into effect that gives NIH more power to terminate grants for policy reasons.
But to use this power, new grant terms must include specific language. See @aniloza.bsky.social w/ the story from July.
1/
HHS devises legal playbook for future grant terminations, internal memo shows
Exclusive: HHS devises a legal playbook for future research grant terminations, an internal memo shows.
www.statnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Update on a significant development NIH grant terms.
On 10/1, a change to grant making regs went into effect that gives NIH more power to terminate grants for policy reasons.
But to use this power, new grant terms must include specific language. See @aniloza.bsky.social w/ the story from July.
1/
On 10/1, a change to grant making regs went into effect that gives NIH more power to terminate grants for policy reasons.
But to use this power, new grant terms must include specific language. See @aniloza.bsky.social w/ the story from July.
1/
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Happy #IHeartBrown Day Brunonians!!❤️ Show your love for #BrownSPH with a gift to the Brown Public Health Annual Fund today!⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://bbis.advancement.brown.edu/bbphenix/iheartbrown
November 18, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Happy #IHeartBrown Day Brunonians!!❤️ Show your love for #BrownSPH with a gift to the Brown Public Health Annual Fund today!⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://bbis.advancement.brown.edu/bbphenix/iheartbrown
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Together, we give. 💙
Join RSA on #GivingTuesday, Dec 2, 2025, as we support the science that drives progress in alcohol research.
Every gift makes a difference.
🔗 researchsocietyonalcohol.org
Join RSA on #GivingTuesday, Dec 2, 2025, as we support the science that drives progress in alcohol research.
Every gift makes a difference.
🔗 researchsocietyonalcohol.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Together, we give. 💙
Join RSA on #GivingTuesday, Dec 2, 2025, as we support the science that drives progress in alcohol research.
Every gift makes a difference.
🔗 researchsocietyonalcohol.org
Join RSA on #GivingTuesday, Dec 2, 2025, as we support the science that drives progress in alcohol research.
Every gift makes a difference.
🔗 researchsocietyonalcohol.org
This policy will have substantial implications. Coupled with delays in study section meetings, this change will especially disadvantage early career investigators and complicate decisions regarding bridging of faculty and funding pilot awards to enhance competitiveness of resubmissions.
Another new policy from the geniuses in NIH leadership.
Apparently, ~70% of grant applications for most mechanisms will not be "triaged", i.e. not discussed at study section.
This is an increase from the ~50% level that has been in place for many years.
I don't know the rationale for this
1/13
Apparently, ~70% of grant applications for most mechanisms will not be "triaged", i.e. not discussed at study section.
This is an increase from the ~50% level that has been in place for many years.
I don't know the rationale for this
1/13
a man with a beard is looking at the camera with the words priorities written on the bottom
ALT: a man with a beard is looking at the camera with the words priorities written on the bottom
media.tenor.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:59 PM
This policy will have substantial implications. Coupled with delays in study section meetings, this change will especially disadvantage early career investigators and complicate decisions regarding bridging of faculty and funding pilot awards to enhance competitiveness of resubmissions.
Reposted by Chris Kahler
New-to-me but very helpful visualizations how all the actions of the past ten months are affecting the CDC www.cdcdataproject.org
The CDC Data Project
In the proposed FY26 budget, programs that help Americans live safer, healthier, longer lives are on the chopping block.
www.cdcdataproject.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:41 PM
New-to-me but very helpful visualizations how all the actions of the past ten months are affecting the CDC www.cdcdataproject.org
If you didn't know, now you know! Hand raised here...
Do a mediation analysis or don't. It doesn't really matter to me. But if you are going to, at least properly deal with random measurement error. It is now super easy to do so in PROCESS as of version 5.0. No more excuses.
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
Errors-in-variables regression as a viable approach to mediation analysis with random error-tainted measurements: Estimation, effectiveness, and an easy-to-use implementation - Behavior Research Metho...
Mediation analysis, popular in many disciplines that rely on behavioral science data analysis techniques, is often conducted using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis methods. Given that ...
link.springer.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:10 PM
If you didn't know, now you know! Hand raised here...
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Do a mediation analysis or don't. It doesn't really matter to me. But if you are going to, at least properly deal with random measurement error. It is now super easy to do so in PROCESS as of version 5.0. No more excuses.
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
Errors-in-variables regression as a viable approach to mediation analysis with random error-tainted measurements: Estimation, effectiveness, and an easy-to-use implementation - Behavior Research Metho...
Mediation analysis, popular in many disciplines that rely on behavioral science data analysis techniques, is often conducted using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis methods. Given that ...
link.springer.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Do a mediation analysis or don't. It doesn't really matter to me. But if you are going to, at least properly deal with random measurement error. It is now super easy to do so in PROCESS as of version 5.0. No more excuses.
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
link.springer.com/article/10.3...
Reposted by Chris Kahler
RSA Members Join Us today at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT for the Advocacy Webinar
Link: hubs.ly/Q03L_JjH0
Link: hubs.ly/Q03L_JjH0
October 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
RSA Members Join Us today at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT for the Advocacy Webinar
Link: hubs.ly/Q03L_JjH0
Link: hubs.ly/Q03L_JjH0
Reposted by Chris Kahler
“Kids who experience discrimination are dealing with stressors that others might not face,” @browncaas.bsky.social Professor @rosalesr.bsky.social says. “If a young person lacks coping strategies...they might turn to less healthy ways of coping—such as alcohol or tobacco.”
Discrimination drives up substance use risk among youth of color, new study finds
Amidst a reversal in youth substance-use trends, a new study links experiences of discrimination among young people of color to an increased risk of turning to substances as a coping mechanism.
sph.brown.edu
October 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
“Kids who experience discrimination are dealing with stressors that others might not face,” @browncaas.bsky.social Professor @rosalesr.bsky.social says. “If a young person lacks coping strategies...they might turn to less healthy ways of coping—such as alcohol or tobacco.”
An excellent, succinct summary for what is at stake for science when DEI programs are attacked and dismantled.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Scaling back DEI programmes and the loss of scientific talent
Nature Cell Biology - Programmes that support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in science are under attack in the USA. Data indicate that diversity in the scientific workforce increases...
www.nature.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
An excellent, succinct summary for what is at stake for science when DEI programs are attacked and dismantled.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 18, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Thank you again to today’s CAAS Rounds speaker, Dr. Justin Berk, for a great conversation on the links between substance use, health equity, and incarceration.
CAAS Rounds resumes next week with Dr. Maha Mian. Hope to see you there!
CAAS Rounds resumes next week with Dr. Maha Mian. Hope to see you there!
October 17, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Thank you again to today’s CAAS Rounds speaker, Dr. Justin Berk, for a great conversation on the links between substance use, health equity, and incarceration.
CAAS Rounds resumes next week with Dr. Maha Mian. Hope to see you there!
CAAS Rounds resumes next week with Dr. Maha Mian. Hope to see you there!
Ditto!
Proud that Brown declined the federal compact, naming restrictions on academic freedom and important merit-based grant processes as key reasons:
www.brown.edu/news/2025-10...
www.brown.edu/news/2025-10...
Brown University president declines invitation for Brown to join federal Compact
In a letter to the White House, President Christina H. Paxson wrote that Compact provisions restricting academic freedom and undermining autonomy would impede the University’s ability to fulfill its m...
www.brown.edu
October 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Ditto!
Reposted by Chris Kahler
Are flies a good model to discover and investigate mechanisms of treatments for alcohol use disorder? We validated known treatments and suggest a potential new treatment: gamma secretase inhibitors.
Ever wonder how fruit flies can be used to help uncover novel therapies for #AlcoholUseDisorder? My new paper with @karlakaun.bsky.social describes a behavioral assay pipeline using #Drosophila that can be used to screen new treatments and to investigate the mechanism of currently available drugs.
Investigating pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder using Drosophila melanogaster
This study validates Drosophila melanogaster as a powerful model for alcohol use disorder (AUD) drug discovery. A pipeline to test drug effects on acute alcohol response, alcohol consumption, and mem...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Are flies a good model to discover and investigate mechanisms of treatments for alcohol use disorder? We validated known treatments and suggest a potential new treatment: gamma secretase inhibitors.