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SHINE Science Center

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About Us

The Sleep and Health Innovations in Neurobehavioral (SHINE) Science Center is a transdisciplinary center of excellence in patient-centered research, education, practice, and clinical scholarship housed in the College of Nursing. SHINE has a special focus on sleep and its impact on health and performance in healthy populations, military families, dementia caregivers, and individuals with a range of sleep disorders and related chronic comorbid conditions, including autism, chronic pain, mild cognitive impairment, obesity, generalized anxiety disorder, and dementia.

SHINE faculty develop and test innovative non-pharmacological interventions that use in-person as well as technology supported delivery approaches (telehealth, digital, virtual reality) to improve sleep, stress, and other aspects of human performance (cognition) and health (pain). They examine the impact of those interventions on sleep, stress, and related mechanisms and patient outcomes using ambulatory monitoring (actigraphy, polysomnography), electrocardiography, structural and functional neuroimaging, quantitative sensory testing, cognitive and psychological assessment, biomarkers (cortisol, inflammatory, neurodegenerative), sex hormones, and genetic markers (APOE-4).

Our Team

Pilot Grant Program

The SHINE Science Center at the USF Health College of Nursing can provide support to USF faculty who are engaged in or planning to undertake innovative research while utilizing resources and expertise of The SHINE Science Center, with a focus on advancing knowledge in sleep and health-related fields. These funds aim to facilitate cutting-edge investigations to foster the development and dissemination of impactful scientific knowledge within the fields of nursing and biobehavioral health.  

Submission Due Date: July 1, 2025 by 5 pm EST  

  • Grant Selection Notification: September 1, 2025  
  • Period of Performance: 1 year (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026)  
  • Amount of Grant: up to $7500

  • To be eligible applicants must: 

    • Be current faculty members employed by the USF College of Nursing who have not received a terminal contract or VA employees with USF appointments 
    • Be employed by USF or the VA (maintaining USF appointment) in their current capacity during the entire term of the award 
    • Apply for only 1 SHINE Science Center pilot grant as Principal Investigator 
    • Funds may be used to compensate participants, purchase supplies, conduct sleep or other assessments using SHINE Science Center facilities and equipment.   
    • Funds may not be used for salary or travel to conferences.   

  • Since this is a Mentored Small Grant Program to encourage investigators (at all levels) that are new to sleep research to engage in research consistent with the SHINE Science Center’s mission, applicants must identify a sleep research mentor in the application with the skills, knowledge, and resources to provide mentorship to the applicant in sleep and health research. Applicants are encouraged to identify more than one mentor (i.e., a mentoring team) if expert advice is needed in more than one aspect of the project. In such cases, a primary mentor must be clearly identified in the application. The applicant must work with the mentor(s) to prepare the application.  

    • Awardees are expected to present their work at a national or international conference and apply for federal funding that includes award findings as preliminary data.  
    • Mentors are expected to be included as co-authors on all presentations and proposals stemming from the grant.  
    • Awardees are also expected to acknowledge the support of the USF SHINE Science Center in publications and presentations.  

  • Instructions: Submit one PDF document containing the following application sections to  CON-SHINEscience@usf.edu

     

    Formatting: Single-spaced, at least 11pt font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.), 0.5-inch margins 

     

    Sections: 

    • Cover Page (1 page)
      • Applicant Name:  
      • Applicant email:  
      • USF College and/or Department:  
      • Primary Mentor:  
      • Additional Mentor(s):  
      • Project Title:  
      • Describe how the project is consistent with SHINE Science Center Mission (150 words)
    • Project Summary (350 words) & Keywords (3-5 words) (1 page)
    • Specific Aims (1 page)
    • Research Strategy (6 pages)
      •  Background & Significance 
      • Preliminary Data 
      • Innovation
      • Approach 
      • Mentorship 
      • Planned Future Grant(s) & Presentation(s) Related to Project 
    • Literature Cited (No page limit)
    • Applicant's NIH Biosketch (5 pages)
    • Mentor(s) NIH Biosketch(es) (5 pages each)
    • Budget & Budget Justification (2 pages) Please provide a detailed, itemized budget table and budget justification. Be sure to include any additional funding sources that will be used to support the project.  

Research Labs

  • McCrae SRL logo

    The McCrae Sleep Research Lab directed by Dr. Christina McCrae studies the impact of sleep and stress on human brain functioning, health, and related outcomes across the lifespan. We use novel mechanistic trial designs, community-based methods, and innovative sleep interventions to improve sleep, stress and related underlying neural mechanisms to prompt downstream improvements in health and related outcomes. We specialize in developing and testing sleep interventions that are tailored for individuals with chronic insomnia and common co-occurring medical conditions (e.g., autism, chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, obesity) as well as caregiving populations (e.g., family and informal caregivers of autistic children and persons with dementia). 

    Our goal is to create sleep interventions that impact mechanisms and outcomes and are optimized for practical, broad implementation and dissemination. To this aim, we use a variety of techniques including (but not limited to) actigraphy, electronic diaries, polysomnography, electrocardiograms, biomarkers of stress, inflammation and neurodegeneration, genetic biomarkers, quantitative sensory/pain testing and cognitive testing. We also incorporate neuroimaging techniques to translate structural and functional imaging outcomes into effective treatment strategies.  

    The McCrae Sleep Research Lab is dedicated to advancing sleep medicine, improving the lives of individuals and families affected by insomnia and related conditions, and training future generations of clinical sleep scientists.  

  • The CASH Lab directed by Dr. Ashley Curtis studies the bidirectional relationship between sleep and cognition in healthy and pathological aging populations. The CASH Lab is specifically interested in evaluating and optimizing cognitive interventions for improving sleep, cognition, and associated functions.   

    The CASH Lab also examines sex-related (biological sex, menopausal transition) and other risk (e.g., pain, alcohol use, inflammation, medication) factors that alter sleep and cognitive profiles across the lifespan. The lab uses behavioral (e.g., cognitive testing, daytime functioning assessment, sleep) and physiological (e.g., polysomnography, heart rate variability, neuroimaging) methods to answer novel research questions in these areas.  

  • The FACCTS Lab directed by Dr. Melanie Stearns focuses on understanding the intricate interplay between children and their caregivers, with a particular emphasis on sleep patterns, parenting behaviors, psychopathology, and emotion regulation.

    Our research adopts a developmental perspective, aiming to investigate how these factors shape children and their caregivers’ emotional and physical development over time.

    Specific objectives include investigating the influence of parent-child interactions on children's psychological development and evaluating interventions to promote positive parent-child emotional and physical health.

Current Projects

  • Funding provided by the University of South Florida (PI Christina McCrae) 

    This nationwide survey asks parents and other caregivers their opinions about the use of behavioral strategies and melatonin for managing their child’s insomnia. This survey will provide information on whether the parents have already used these treatments for their child and if not, would they be willing to use them, what influences their willingness to have their child try them, do they know how to get these treatments, and what types of outcomes are important to them. Parent responses will be used to inform future studies. If you are a parent or other caregiver of a child with insomnia (aged 6-12) and want to participate in this survey, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funding provided by the University of South Florida (PI Christina McCrae) 

    This study asks local community health stakeholders - providers, parents and other caregivers, and kids with chronic insomnia their opinions about the use of behavioral strategies and melatonin for managing insomnia in kids. These individuals will be asked to complete surveys, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups. The focus will be on what they already know about these treatments, what they think about these treatments as options for insomnia in kids, and what types of outcomes are important to them. Their responses will be used to inform future studies. If you are a local community health provider or user (parent or child with insomnia (aged 6-12) of community health services in the Tampa Bay region and wish to participate,  please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funded by the University of South Florida (PI Christina McCrae) 

    Poor sleep in children is often accompanied by poor attention, memory, academic performance, mood, behaviors and increased injury risk, as well as poor sleep and increased stress and fatigue in parents and other caregivers. Behavioral sleep treatments are recommended and can improve sleep and related outcomes in children. However,  it can be difficult to find a provider that offers such treatment and even if parents find a provider, attending multiple treatment sessions can be difficult. This trial tests a web-based behavioral sleep treatment tailored for children (aged 6-12). Web-delivery allows families to engage in treatment when it is convenient for them.   If interested, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funding provided by the University of South Florida (PI Christina McCrae) 

    This nationwide survey asks parents and other caregivers their opinions about the use of behavioral strategies and melatonin for managing their autistic child’s insomnia. This survey will provide information on whether the parents have already used these treatments for their child and if not, would they be willing to use them, what influences their willingness to have their child try them, do they know how to get these treatments, and what types of outcomes are important to them. Parent responses will be used to inform future studies. If you are a parent or other caregiver of an autistic child with insomnia (aged 6-12) and want to participate in this survey, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funded by the University of South Florida (PI Christina McCrae) 

    Autistic children are vulnerable to insomnia and arousal dysregulation which can exacerbate other autism-related symptoms and negatively impact parent sleep, fatigue, and functioning. Behavioral treatments for insomnia hold promise for improving child insomnia and arousal dysregulation and their related consequences in both children and parents.  This study tests the suitability, practicality, and preliminary impact of a web-based sleep program tailored by and for school-age autistic children and their parents or other caregivers. Web-delivery offers convenient, flexible scheduling. If your autistic child (aged 6-12) has sleep difficulties and you’re interested in this study, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funding provided by the Department of Defense (PI Christina McCrae) 

    Children with autism often have difficulties falling and staying asleep at night. Those sleep difficulties can contribute to daytime problems with irritability, learning, and behavior. Parents’ sleep can suffer as well. This trial tests the impact of behavioral sleep interventions tailored for autistic children on their sleep and how they feel and act during the day. Impact on parent sleep and how they feel and function during the day is also examined. We are recruiting autistic children (aged 6-12) and their parent or other caregiver. If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funded by the University of South Florida (PI Christina McCrae) 

    Chronic insomnia is all too common in adults – both with and without chronic pain – and can impact how our brains process stress and pain. Behavioral treatment approaches hold promise for improving not only insomnia but also stress, pain, and a host of other health-related outcomes. Patients are often interested in behavioral (non-drug) alternatives for treating their insomnia. Web interventions offer one solution for convenient and flexible insomnia treatment, but require internet service. This study tests the use of Virtual Reality to deliver behavioral treatment for insomnia (aka iVR). iVR does not require internet service and offering convenient and flexible treatment with the support of a virtual therapist moderator. If you are an adult (18+) with chronic insomnia (with or without chronic pain) and interested in this novel study, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funding provided by the National Institute on Aging (PI Christina McCrae) 

    Dementia caregivers experience high rates of chronic insomnia and stress that can contribute to poor health outcomes. Improving sleep and stress holds great potential to improve caregiver health. This trial compares the impact of two web-based sleep interventions (tailored for caregivers) on sleep and stress and their downstream impacts on caregiver health (mood, cognition, inflammation, neurodegeneration, cognitive performance). We are recruiting caregivers with insomnia that live with and provide care for an individual with Alzheimer’s dementia. No travel required. If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funding provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (PI Christina McCrae) 

    Improving sleep can improve pain and the way our brains process pain and thus, may help to support successful tapering from opioid medications. Participants in this trial will receive one of two behavioral sleep interventions followed by supported, gradual tapering from their opioid medication. We are recruiting individuals with chronic pain (6+ months) and chronic insomnia (6+ months) that wish to reduce their reliance on prescribed opioid medication. If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-mccraelab@usf.edu 

  • Funding provided by the Judy Genshaft Women’s Health Collaborative Seed Grant Fund (PI Ashley Curtis)

    This study critically advances our work by examining how menopause impacts relationships among modifiable Alzheimer’s disease risk factors (sleep and pain) and cognition in middle-aged women. We are recruiting middle-aged women aged 44-64 with insomnia and memory complaints to participate in a fully remote study. Women will complete computer assessments at baseline, 3-month follow-up and 6-month follow-up. Participants will be compensated for their participation. If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-cashlab@usf.edu. 

  • Funding provided by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (PI Ashley Curtis) 

    This study aims to address challenges faced by autistic adults in terms of cognition and adaptive functioning, exacerbated by the high prevalence of insomnia (~80%) among this population. Through a mixed-methods approach, we will iteratively optimize an adaptive cognitive training program for autistic adults with insomnia (COGMUSE-AUT; Stage-1). We will then pilot test (Stage-2) COGMUSE-AUT in a sample of autistic adults with co-occurring insomnia, assessing its impact on cognition, sleep, and daytime functioning outcomes.  We are recruiting autistic adults aged 18+ and their guardians.  Participants will be compensated for their participation.  If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-cashlab@usf.edu. 

  • Funding provided by the Sleep Research Society Foundation (PI Amy Costa/Mentor Ashley Curtis)  

    We are investigating the impact on sleep on subjective and objective measures of cognitive functioning in older adults with and without insomnia (ages 60+). We will be recruiting participants in the Tampa area who will come to our lab at the University of South Florida to complete questionnaires and computer tasks. We will also have participants complete at home measurements of sleep. Participants will be compensated for completing the study. If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-cashlab@usf.edu 

  • Funded provided by the University of South Florida (PI Ashley Curtis) 

    We are investigating a novel computerized cognitive training program combined with music listening in older adults with MCI and insomnia. We will evaluate participant feedback on the intervention and test its impact on several key outcomes including cognition and sleep.  If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-cashlab@usf.edu 

  • Funding provided by the College of Nursing Dean’s Grant 

    This pilot study involves a mixed-methods approach to iteratively optimize and evaluate a telehealth behavioral sleep intervention tailored for children 8-17 years old with ODD and insomnia and their parents. 

    If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-FACCTSlab@usf.edu

  • Funding provided by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (PI Melanie Stearns) 

    This study aims to examine sleep and physiological arousal in children with ODD and their parents. We are recruiting children aged 8-12 with ODD and their parents.   

    If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-FACCTSlab@usf.edu

  • (PI Melanie Stearns) 

    This pilot study examines a digital CBTi for children and adolescents with ODD to provide data for future full-scale studies.

    If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact us at CON-FACCTSlab@usf.edu

News

  • April 2025

    • Congratulations to CASH Lab Graduate Research Assistant Susan Rodriguez for winning a Travel Award (Social & Behavioral Sciences & Education category) for her oral presentation at the 2025 USF's Annual Graduate Research Symposium.  
    • Congratulations  to CASH Lab graduate trainee Amy Costa and graduate research assistant Susan Rodriguez for being selected for a Sleep Research Society Diversity Travel Award and Sleep Research Society First Time Attendee Award, respectively, to present at the SLEEP conference in Seattle in June!
    • Congratulations to McCrae Sleep Research Lab trainee Marlee Richardson for being selected as a Sleep Research Society First Time Attendee Award Recipient to present at the SLEEP conference in Seattle in June!

    March 2025 

    • Dr. Curtis presented at Cleveland Clinic Neurology Grand Rounds on “Neurocognitive Health and Sleep in Aging: Training Strategies & Moderating Factors.” 
    • THE SHINE Science Center was well represented at USF Health Research Day, presenting 10 posters and winning 3 awards. Congratulations to CASH Lab Doctoral trainee Natasa Billeci and Undergraduate Trainees Alvina Ngyuyen and Manisha Katwal for winning College of Nursing Community-Based Research Awards! 

    January 2025 

    • Congratulations for McCrae Sleep Research Lab Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Amofa-Ho’s acceptance into the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation Young Investigator Research Forum (YIRF)  

  • December 2024  

    • The SHINE center leadership (Drs. McCrae, Curtis & Stearns) hosted a NIH Program Grant Writing Retreat in the College of Nursing.  This 2-day grant writing retreat brought together multidisciplinary researchers from across USF to engage in a think-tank and other collaborative activities aimed at advancing federal program grant development. The event provided a structured environment for researchers to share ideas, refine their proposal aims, and collaborate on strategies for successful grant submissions.  

    November 2024  

    • SHINE center faculty and students were well represented at the Gerontological Society of America Conference in Seattle.   
      • Center faculty Drs. McCrae, Curtis and Stearns presented a symposium on “Through the Lens of Theory:  Approaches to Behavioral Intervention Optimization and Evaluations in Aging Adults”.  
      • Dr. Curtis presented an oral presentation on “Pain and Memory Lane: Sex Differences in the contribution of stress reactivity to pain and cognition in aging adults” 
      • CASH Lab doctoral trainee Amy Costa presented an oral presentation on “City Lights or Countryside Nights? Rurality’s Role on Anxiety and Sleep in Mid-to-Late Life” 

    Sept 2024  

    • Congratulations to Dr. McCrae for receiving the USF Outstanding Research Achievement Award! Read more here.
    • SHINE Center Faculty and Trainees attended the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Conference in Chicago, IL.  
      • Drs. McCrae and Curtis presented a Symposium entitled “Insomnia Unlocked: Optimizing Assessments and Behavioral Interventions”
      • Dr. Stearns presented in a symposium entitled: “Sleep and autism across the lifespan: New perspectives on assessment and treatment”
      • McCrae Sleep Research Lab Trainees presented several talks: 
        • Niazi, J.L., *McGovney, K., Stearns, M.A., Curtis, A.F., & McCrae C.S. (Accepted) Moderating effects of mood on variability in bed/waketimes and morning fatigue in women with sleep and pain complaints. Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (SBSM) Conference, Chicago, IL. 
        • Clement S.*, McGovney K.*, Stearns MA, & McCrae CS. (September, 2024). Guided Visual Meditation and Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBT-I) Using Virtual Reality (iVR). Oral presentation accepted at the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Conference, Chicago, Illinois. Semene also won a travel award for her work! 

    August 2024 

    • Congratulations to Dr. McCrae for being awarded the USF College of Nursing Established Researcher Award! 
    • Congratulations to Dr. Stearns for being awarded the USF College of Nursing Research Article of the year award! 

    July 2024 

    • SHINE Science Center Faculty and trainees participated int the Emerging Nurse Scientist Summer Program
      • McCrae Sleep Research Lab trainee Monserrat Villasenor-Garcia, presented her poster “Daily Associations Between Sleep and Cognition in Individuals with Chronic Widespread Pain”. 
      • CASH Lab summer undergraduate trainee Lauren Stuart, presented her poster “Sex-Specific Contributions of Alcohol Use on Pain and Stress in Mid-to-Late Life.”

    June 2024  

    • Congratulations to Dr. Curtis for being invited to the Early Career NIA Grant Reviewer Program! 
    • Congratulations to Dr. Stearns for being accepted into the Sleep Research Society Grant Reviewer Training Program! 
    • Dr. Curtis was interviewed by NeurologyLive on Chronotype, Circadian Rhythms and Neurocognitive Health at the SLEEP conference in Houston, Texas.
    • SHINE Center faculty and trainees were well-represented at the Annual SLEEP conference in Houston, Texas.
      • From the McCrae Sleep Research Lab: 
        • Berry, J.R., Weiss, K.E., McCrae, C.S., & Bell, D.J. (2024, June). Using Community Engagement to Increase Utilization of Primary Care for Sleep Concerns in Communities of Color. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (SLEEP). Houston, Texas. 
        • Stearns, M. A., McGovney, K., Meltzer, L., McHale, J., Littlewood, K., Szalacha, L., & McCrae, C. S. (2024, June). Grand Connections: Inter- and Intraindividual Sleep Between Grandparents Raising Grandchildren and Grandchildren. Poster presentation to be presented at the 2024 38th Annual SLEEP Conference, Houston, TX, United States.
        • Martin, A., Stearns, M. A., McGovney, K., Curtis, A. F., Mazurek, M., Sohl, K. A., Beversdorf, D. Q., Davis, B. E., McCrae, C. S. Sleep Moderates Behavioral Difficulties and Quality of Life in Autistic Children. Poster to be presented at the 2024 38th Annual SLEEP Conference 2024, Houston, TX, United States. 
        • McGovney, K., Ohley, A., Stearns, M. A., Curtis, A. F., Craggs, J., Miller, M. B., McCrae, C. S. Sleeping it off: Alcohol, cannabis, and alterations in bedtime and waketime in women with sleep and pain complaints. Abstract accepted for presentation at the 38th Annual SLEEP Conference, Houston, TX, United States. 

      • From the CASH Lab:
        • Dr. Curtis presented in the symposium “Beyond the Night: Circadian Rhythms, Sleep and Neurocognitive Health in Aging Adults” and 2 posters: “Does XX or XY Mark the Spot: Sex-specific Analysis of Polysomnographic Sleep and Cognition in Older Adults” & “Sleep Sightlines and Soundwaves: Exploring Sex Differences in Sleep-Related Attentional Bias in Older Adults”.   
        • Amy Costa’s poster on “You Don’t Snooze, You Lose (Awareness): Sleep’s Role on Awareness of Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment” Undergraduate research assistant Celestine Sebastian’s poster on “Beat Right, Sleep Tight: Pilot Study of Depression’s Role on Blood Pressure and Sleep in Older Adults with Insomnia”.   Celestine also won an undergraduate trainee travel scholarship for her work! 
        • Undergraduate research assistant Celestine Sebastian’s poster on “Beat Right, Sleep Tight: Pilot Study of Depression’s Role on Blood Pressure and Sleep in Older Adults with Insomnia." Celestine also won an undergraduate trainee travel scholarship for her work! 

    May 2024  

    • Dr. Curtis presented on her American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation (AASMF) funded work “Cognitive Exploration of Sleep in Aging: Training and Sex-Specific Insights” at the AASMF Sleep Grand Rounds.  
    • Dr. Curtis presented at the Byrd/Neuroscience Institute Seminar Series at USF Health.

    April 2024  

    March 2024

    • SHINE Science center trainees presented 9 posters at the USF Health Research Day
      • Congratulations to CASH Lab Trainees for winning several awards: Doctoral Trainee Amy Costa won the College of Nursing Basic Science/Clinical Research Doctoral award! Undergraduate trainee Celestine won the Best Undergraduate Basic and Clinical Science Award for her work! 

    February 2024

    • Dr. Stearns presented on “Insomnia: Diagnosis and Treatment” at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine in Buffalo, NY. 

Publications

  • Stearns, M. A., Hayse, B., Nair, N., Mazurek, M., Curtis, A., Beversdorf, D. Q., Sohl, K., Takahasi, N., Muckerman, J., & McCrae, C. S. (2025). Child sleep onset latency mediates parental depression and non-compliance in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism. 119, 102518.

    Musich, M., Curtis, A. F., Ferguson, B. J., Drysdale, D., Thomas, A. L., Greenlief, M., Shenker, J. I., & Beversdorf, D. Q. (in press). Preliminary effects of American Elderberry Juice on cognitive functioning in Mild Cognitive Impairment patients: A secondary analysis of cognitive composite scores in a randomized clinical trial. Antioxidants. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020131 

    Hayse, B., Stearns, M., Mazurek, M., Curtis, A. F., Nair, N., Chan, W.S., Munoz, M., McGovney, K., Beversdorf, D. Q., Golzy, M., Sohl, K. A., Ner, Z. H., Davis, B. E., Takahashi, N., & McCrae, C. S. (in press). Exploratory analyses of sleep intraindividual variability and fatigue in parents of children on the autism spectrum. AUTISM. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241292691 

  • Tracy EL, So CJ, Shoemaker SD, Kanaley JA, Trull T, Manrique-Acevedo C, McCrae CS, Borsari B, Miller MB. Bidirectional links between sleep and pain among heavy-drinking veterans with insomnia. Sleep Adv. 2024 Dec 18;5(1):zpae089. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae089. PMID: 39717114; PMCID: PMC11664483. 

    Rubi S, Monk JK, Shoemaker S, Miller C, Prabhu N, Flores LY, Bernard D, McCrae CS, Borsari B, Miller MB. Perpetuating and protective factors in insomnia across racial/ethnic groups of veterans. J Sleep Res. 2024 Apr;33(2):e14063. doi: 10.1111/jsr.14063. Epub 2023 Oct 1. PMID: 37778753; PMCID: PMC10947959. 

    Paul T, Hassan O, McCrae CS, Islam SK, Mosa ASM. Lightweight and Low-Parametric Network for Hardware Inference of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 Nov 8;14(22):2505. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics14222505. PMID: 39594171; PMCID: PMC11593213. 

    Miller MB, Carpenter RW, Nance M, Freeman LK, Metrik J, Borsari B, McCrae CS, Merrill JE, Carey KB, McGeary JE. Insomnia treatment effects on negative emotionality among veterans in treatment for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2024 Nov;48(11):2126-2136. doi: 10.1111/acer.15436. Epub 2024 Oct 28. PMID: 39466174; PMCID: PMC11622692. 

    Miller MB, Freeman LK, Helle AC, Hall NA, DiBello AM, McCrae CS. Comparative feasibility and preliminary efficacy of CBT for insomnia among adults seeking and not seeking addiction treatment. J Sleep Res. 2024 Apr;33(2):e13969. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13969. Epub 2023 Jul 9. PMID: 37423902; PMCID: PMC11154863. 

    Schotland H, Wickwire E, Aaronson RM, Dawson SC, Khosla S, Lee-Iannotti JK, Leu RM, Lewin DS, McCrae CS, Neubauer D, Ong JC, Heffron TM, Whittington C, Martin JL. Increasing access to evidence-based insomnia care in the United States: findings from an American Academy of Sleep Medicine stakeholder summit. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024 Mar 1;20(3):455-459. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.10922. PMID: 37942936; PMCID: PMC11019205. 

    Stearns, M. A., Hayse, B., Nair, N., Mazurek, M., Curtis, A. F., Beversdorf, D. Q., Sohl, K., Muckerman, J., & McCrae, C. S. (in press). Child sleep onset latency mediates parental depression and non-compliance in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.  

    Costa, A. N., Halder, P., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (2024). City lights, countryside nights: Rurality, anxiety and sleep in mid-to-late life. Journal of Rural Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000280 

    McCrae C. S., Curtis A. F., Stearns M. A . (2024). Tackling insomnia in late life: Roles of age, sex differences, sleep apnea, the menopausal transition, and caregiving. Advances in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, 4, 235-248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypsc.2024.05.006 

    Musich, M., Beversdorf, D. Q., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (2024). Subjective-objective sleep discrepancy in a predominately white and educated older adult population: Examining the associations with cognition and insomnia. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. 79(7), gbae074. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbae074 

    Curtis, A. F., Musich, M., Costa, A. N., Gonzales, J., Gonzales, H., Ferguson, B. J., Kille, B., Thomas, A. L., Wei, X., Liu, P., Greenlief, C. M., Shenker, J., & Beversdorf, D. Q. (2024). Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of American elderberry juice for improving cognition and inflammation in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25, 4352. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms2508435248  

    Curtis, A. F., Jagannathan, S., Musich, M., Miller, M. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2024). Mid-to-late life anxiety and sleep during initial phase of COVID-19: Age and sex-specific insights to inform future pandemic healthcare. Brain Sciences, 2024, 14, 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14040346 

    Stearns, M. A, McCrae, C. S., Curtis, A. F., Nair, N., Hayse, B., Nadorff, D., & Wilkerson, A. (2024). Adolescent sleep mediates maternal depressive problems and parenting behaviors: daughter and son differences in a majority Black and Hispanic sample. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 20, 849-858. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.10996 

    Curtis, A. F., Miller, MB, Costa, A. N., Musich, M., & McCrae, C. S. (2024). An overview of sex and gender considerations in sleep and alcohol use. Current Addiction Reports, 11, 316-326. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00539-7 

    McCrae CS, Curtis A. F., Stearns MA, & Craggs JC. (2023). Fibromyalgia and the Brain: What’s Sleep got to do with it? Current Sleep Medicine Reports, 9, 235-246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-023-00268-3 

    Curtis, A. F., Nair, N., Hayse, B., McGovney, K., Mikula, C., Halder, P., Craggs, J. G., Kiselica, A., & McCrae, C. S. (2024). Preliminary Investigation of the Interactive Role of Physiological Arousal and Insomnia in Gray Matter Volume Alterations in Chronic Widespread Pain. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.10860 

  • McGovney KD, Curtis AF, McCrae CS. Actigraphic Physical Activity, Pain Intensity, and Polysomnographic Sleep in Fibromyalgia. Behav Sleep Med. 2023 Jul-Aug;21(4):383-396. doi: 10.1080/15402002.2022.2102009. Epub 2022 Jul 20. PMID: 35856908. 

    Miller MB, Carpenter RW, Freeman LK, Dunsiger S, McGeary JE, Borsari B, McCrae CS, Arnedt JT, Korte P, Merrill JE, Carey KB, Metrik J. Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Alcohol Treatment Outcomes Among US Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2023 Sep 1;80(9):905-913. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1971. Erratum in: JAMA Psychiatry. 2024 Sep 1;81(9):948. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.2216. PMID: 37342036; PMCID: PMC10285676. 

    Chan WS, McCrae CS, Ng AS. Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Effective for Improving Sleep Duration in Individuals with Insomnia? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Ann Behav Med. 2023 May 23;57(6):428-441. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaac061. PMID: 36461882. 

    McCrae CS, Curtis AF, Stearns MA, Nair N, Golzy M, Shenker JI, Beversdorf DQ, Cottle A, Rowe MA. Development and Initial Evaluation of Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Rural Family Caregivers of People With Dementia (NiteCAPP): Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Aging. 2023 Aug 24;6:e45859. doi: 10.2196/45859. PMID: 37616032; PMCID: PMC10485710. 

    Costa, A. N., Coman, A., Musich, M., Beversdorf, D. Q., McCrae, C. S., & Curtis, A. F. (2023). Sleep Characteristics and Pain in Middle-aged and Older Adults: Sex-Specific Impact of Physical and Sedentary Activity.  Sleep Medicine, 111, 180-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.09.030 

    McCrae, C. S., Curtis, A. F., Stearns, Nair, N., Golzy, M., Shenker, J., Beversdorf, D. Q., Cottle, A., & Rowe, M. (2023). Development and Initial Evaluation of Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Rural Family Caregivers of People With Dementia (NiteCAPP): Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Aging. 6(1), e45859. 

    Musich, M., Costa, A. N., Salathe*, V., Miller, M. B., & Curtis, A. F. (2023). Sex-Specific contributions of alcohol and hypertension on everyday cognition in middle-aged and older adults. Journal of Women’s Health. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2022.0462 

    Curtis, A. F., Costa, A. N., Musich, M., Schmiedeler, A., Jagannathan, S., Connell, M., Atkinson*, A., Miller, M. B., & McCrae, C. S. (2023). Sex as a moderator of the sleep and cognition relationship in middle-aged and older adults. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2023.2177293 

    Costa, A. N., Nowakowski, L., McCrae, C. S., Cowan, N., & Curtis, A. F. (2023). Objective cognition and subjective memory in middle-aged and older adults: The role of personality. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 9.  https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721422114 

    McGovney, K., Curtis, A. F., McCrae, C. S. (2023). Actigraphic Physical Activity, Pain Intensity, and Polysomnographic Sleep in Fibromyalgia. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 21, 383-396. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2022.2102009 

    Costa, A. N., Curtis, A. F., Musich, M., Guandique, A. A., & McCrae, C. S. (2023). Self-reported cognition in older adults with insomnia: Associations with sleep and domain specific cognition. Journal of Sleep Research, 32, e13751. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13751 

    Szkody, E., Stearns, M., & McKinney, C. (2023). Dysregulation and parenting of emerging adults. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 32(12), 1798–1812. 

    Szkody, E., Stearns, M., & McKinney, C. (2023). Dysregulation and parenting of emerging adults. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 32(12), 1798–1812. 

    Hughes, A., Gunn, H., Siengsukon, C., Stearns, M. A., James, E., Donly, T., Williams, N. (2023). Eliminating sleep health disparities: Seven areas for action in the SBSM Community. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 21(5), 633-645. 

    Gissandaner, T. D., Stearns, M. A., Sarver, D. E., Walker, B., & Ford, H. (2023). Understanding the impact of child behavior problems and sleep on caregiver stress: Results from a U.S. National Survey. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(4), 1550-1564. 

    Szkody, E., Stearns, M., & McKinney, C. (2023). Interpersonal competence: A mediator between ODD problems and parent-child relationship discord. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 54(6), 1510-1520. 

     Stearns, M., Szkody, E., & McKinney, C. (2023). Perceived mother-father dyad parenting typologies across four regions in the United States. Journal of Family Issues, 44(4), 993-1020. 

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