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Heather Burrell Ward, MD

@heatherwardmd.bsky.social
159 followers 235 following 33 posts

Psychiatrist. Director of Neuromodulation Research & Assistant Professor @VUMCPsych using fMRI/TMS to study the brain circuit basis of co-occurring substance use and psychotic disorders. Mom. www.vumc.org/heatherwardlab/

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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Jibran Khokhar @drjkhokhar.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
One join us on Saturday for the High Stakes Session! Featuring @zivacooper.bsky.social @heatherwardmd.bsky.social @siararouzer.bsky.social @rachelrabin.bsky.social #SOBP2026 If you are around on Saturday, come say hi!
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Neuropsychopharmacology @npp-journal.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
This recent Research Highlight from @heatherwardmd.bsky.social‬ discusses how single rTMS sessions with fMRI to probe mechanism are critical stepping stones that line the path toward highly effective neuromodulation interventions for substance use www.nature.com/artic...
nature.com
One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders
Neuropsychopharmacology - One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders
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Heather Burrell Ward, MD @heatherwardmd.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
1. Excited to share our new publication in ‪@apa-journals.bsky.social‬ with Alex Moussa-Tooks @iubccnc that links grip strength 🏋️‍♂️ and well-being to alterations in resting-state network connectivity 🧠 psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/...
psychiatryonline.org
Grip Strength as a Marker of Resting-State Network Integrity and Well-Being in Early Psychosis | American Journal of Psychiatry
Objective: Psychomotor function is a critical marker of risk and outcome of psychosis. Grip strength is one aspect of psychomotor function that is known to be linked to structural neural integrity and...
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Heather Burrell Ward, MD @heatherwardmd.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
1. Excited to share “Rewiring recovery: Patient-centered 🧲🧠 neuromodulation interventions for substance use disorders that meet people where they are,” in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with @VUMCPsych collaborators Sophia Blyth and Kristopher Kast www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Neuropsychopharmacology @npp-journal.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Studies like Petersen et al. that use single rTMS sessions with fMRI to probe the mechanism of rTMS for substance use disorders are critical stepping stones toward highly effective neuromodulation interventions for substance use @heatherwardmd.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Megan Ranney MD MPH @meganranney.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Over the next 25 years, if proposed cuts in NIH funding are made real, “In a population of more than 340 million, this reflects **82 million** fewer years of life.” In the US alone. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Cutting the NIH—The $8 Trillion Health Care Catastrophe
This JAMA Forum discusses the recent budget cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH), the effects of these cuts on scientific research and health of individuals in the US, and the prospects for cha...
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Heather Burrell Ward, MD @heatherwardmd.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
This was such a fun Research Highlights piece to write for @npp-journal.bsky.social! I basically got to 👏 the impressive 🧲 🧠 work of @npetersen.bsky.social 🤩 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - One step at a time: use of single-session rTMS to test novel targets for substance use disorders
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Ethan Solomon @esolomon.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Excited to announce award of my K99/R00 "Theta burst modulation of hippocampal-cortical rhythms in schizophrenia," under amazing mentors at Stanford including @coreykeller.bsky.social! We will ask whether hippocampal oscillations can be systematically influenced by stimulation in schizophrenia.
reporter.nih.gov
RePORT ⟩ RePORTER
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Heather Burrell Ward, MD @heatherwardmd.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
1. Our new @JAMAPsych publication shows that provoking symptoms before administering TMS for OCD and nicotine dependence may enhance clinical response. Read more here & tweetorial below: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Peg Duthie @plduthie.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Co-authors include intern Ishaan Gadiyar, @kaidikang.bsky.social (PhD biostat 2025 @vanderbilt.edu) @vandyatvandy.bsky.social & @heatherwardmd.bsky.social VUMC News feature: news.vumc.org/2025/06/06/n... #MentalHealth
news.vumc.org
New study highlights potential boost to brain stimulation therapy through targeted symptom provocation
A study explores deliberately triggering symptoms immediately before administering rTMS enhances treatment outcomes.
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Peg Duthie @plduthie.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Vanderbilt PhD candidate Megan Jones @mntj21.bsky.social co-first-authored a JAMA Psychiatry review & analysis of 70+ randomized clinical trials that has collected 2K+ views (Altmetric 46) within 2 days. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... More about her at www.vanderbilt.edu/biostatistic...
jamanetwork.com
Symptom Provocation and Clinical Response to TMS
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the association between symptom provocation and efficacy of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for nicotine dependence and obsessive-compulsi...
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Harvard Review of Psychiatry @harvardrevpsych.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
A 45yo man with a history of TBI and seizures presents with depression resistant to multiple medications. What should be the next treatment? Experts review rTMS, ECT, ketamine, and neurosurgery in this Clinical Challenge @heatherwardmd.bsky.social journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/f...
journals.lww.com
A Case of Treatment-Resistant Depression Complicated by... : Harvard Review of Psychiatry
An abstract is unavailable.
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 02/04/2025
🥗 If these aren't fightin' words, I don't know what are.
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
reginalabelle.bsky.social @reginalabelle.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
The entire SAMHSA staff that manages the National Survey on Drug Use and Health has been terminated. This is the only survey that tracks mental health and substance use trends in the US. We really are flying blind now.
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Susanne Ahmari @ahmarilab.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Unsurprisingly, funding has now also been terminated at University of Pittsburgh. Work from my outstanding colleagues in Psychiatry & Psychology, Erika Forbes and Jennifer Silk, investigating suicide in LGBQT young adults, terminated midstream😩 PA folks, add this to your daily calls to congress ☎️
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Susanne Ahmari @ahmarilab.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Unclear why outstanding scientists @crodriguezmdphd.bsky.social and @thebalelab.bsky.social were removed from their important service on the NIH advisory board. Would be great to get some transparency on this…
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Ninet Lab @ninetlab.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/...
psychiatryonline.org
Assessment and Management of Concurrent Substance Use in Patients Receiving Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depressive, Obsessive-Compulsive, Psychotic, and Trauma-Related Disorders: ...
Objective: Limited data are available to inform clinicians on how to manage concurrent substance use in the context of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of depressi...
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Laura Murray @lauramurrayphd.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
I'm happy to share our paper in @npp-journal.bsky.social on rsFC, cue-reactivity, and craving in nicotine smoking AND vaping! Thanks to coauthors, @amy.janeslab.org @blaisefrederick.bsky.social @ckorponay.bsky.social @mariascavnicky.bsky.social Here's what we found 🧵 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Brain reactivity to nicotine cues mediates the link between resting-state connectivity and cue-induced craving in individuals who smoke or vape nicotine - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - Brain reactivity to nicotine cues mediates the link between resting-state connectivity and cue-induced craving in individuals who smoke or vape nicotine
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Jenni Blackford @jenniblackford.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Small but mighty gathering in Omaha today by UNMC campus. Glad to be there with Adunaevsky.bsky.social!
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Sarah Tishkoff, PhD @sarahtishkoff.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Proud to stand up for science on the steps of the Tennessee state capital in Nashville! #standupforscience
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Jack Iwashyna @iwashyna.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
NIH budget: $ 48b Musk wealth: $351b Both are mostly funded by your tax dollars But only one might save your life . . . . Sources: www.nih.gov/about-nih/wh... Search results: elon musk net worth g.co/kgs/6c8YEuB @standupforscience.bsky.social
g.co
Google Search
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Katherine Stefanski @kmstefanski.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Stand Up For Science TN (Nashville) was a success! Thanks to everyone who came out and @campbell4tn.bsky.social and @aftynbehn.bsky.social for coming out and adding their voices to the fight! @standupforscience.bsky.social #standupforscience2025
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Nature @nature.com · 07/03/2025
The mood was defiant at many of the rallies, where chants of “Scientists will not be silenced”, “Facts over fear” and “What do we want? Peer review! When do we want it? Now!” were heard. go.nature.com/3F8T6FX
go.nature.com
‘Scientists will not be silenced’: thousands protest Trump research cuts
Researchers at Stand Up for Science rallies voice defiance against the policies of US President Donald Trump’s administration.
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Kelly Taylor, MS, CGC @msfopra.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
#standupforscience2025 in Nashville was a big success. I spoke. I didn’t throw up. 😂 Love seeing all the pics from around the country and around the world. Out of the lab and into the streets! @standupforscience.bsky.social
Protesters with signs on steps at Capitol in Nashville. Protesters with signs on steps at Capitol in Nashville.Protesters with signs on steps at Capitol in Nashville.Protesters with signs on steps at Capitol in Nashville.
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Neuropsychopharmacology @npp-journal.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
What's new at @acnporg.bsky.social in 2025? A whole *new* cohort of ACNP Associate Members! 🤩 Over the next few months, we'll be introducing our new Associate Members, so keep an eye out & send congrats their way! #WelcomeToACNP👋 Today, say hello to Dr. Gustavo Angarita from Yale Psychiatry 👇
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
At the Capitol in NASHVILLE today…
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Marcus Kaiser @connectomelab.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Our press release about the results is now online here: www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/patient...
nottingham.ac.uk
News - Patients with mental health conditions would favour non-invasive interventions over medication, finds a new survey - University of Nottingham
A new study, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that patients who need treatment for neurological and mental health disorders, would favour non-invasive neuromodulation interven...
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Guardian story about Federal Register issue is up. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Trump halts medical research funding in apparent violation of judge’s order
Health department orders NIH to hold Federal Register submissions – critical step in process for funding studies
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Reposted by Heather Burrell Ward, MD
Amy McGrath @amymcgrath.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Here’s what is going on. When you start firing the military’s top lawyers, that means you are getting ready to order the military to do unlawful things. Trump replaces those JAGs with men who will justify any future unlawful and unethical actions that he wants the military to do.
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Autumn Kujawa @akujawa.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
@medvanderbilt.bsky.social will be at the Nashville site standupforscience2025.org/nashville-tn/ and we look forward to seeing others there!
standupforscience2025.org
Nashville, TN
Location: Tennessee State Capitol Capitol Hill Area, Nashville, TN, United States Address: War Memorial Building and Legislative Plaza Time: 12-4 PM
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
“The discoveries that aren’t made — you can’t point to them, because they will never be made,” said Jeremy Berg, a former director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. “The hard part is you don’t know what you missed until years later, when something doesn’t happen.”
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Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Also just now, NIH intranet was updated re its communications pause. NIH scientists can now resume travel to and participation in conferences. The pause on updating the Federal Register remains in place -- which means grant-making is effectively frozen, in violation of court orders.
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
New York Times article now up on Federal Register stuff. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/s... 1/n
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Stalls Scientific Research Despite Court Ruling (Gift Article)
Using an arcane law, officials have effectively delayed funding from the National Institutes of Health, leaving medical studies in jeopardy.
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WESA @wesa.fm · 21/02/2025
The University of Pittsburgh confirmed Friday that there would be no new Ph.D. offers of admission while Pitt works to understand how reduced federal aid could impact the institution.
wesa.fm
The University of Pittsburgh pauses its Ph.D. admissions process amid research funding uncertainty
A spokesperson for the University told WESA Friday that the school has "temporarily paused additional Ph.D. offers of admission," while Pitt works to understand how proposed federal funding cuts could...
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Dr. Becca @docbecca.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but the Federal Register block is intentionally being used to stop NIH from awarding grants. They might not call it a freeze, but things are effectively frozen. We need legal action ASAP.
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André K. Isaacs @drdre4000.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Diversity is our greatest asset, even if the government disagrees… They not like us! POC in STEM are here to stay. They tried to rig the game but you can’t fake influence! Mustard on the [Be][At] bro. Happy Black History Month!
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Whitney Robinson @whitneyepi.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
$1 billion… Just refusing to fund federal health research and pocketing away the designated money for their own slush funds Sucking $1 billion out of the economy, diverting it from health research… For what?
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 21/02/2025
The Trump Administration is maintaining the NIH grant freeze despite lawsuits challenging the order, a Nature article reported today. Science funding in the US is already lagging, leaving researchers in limbo. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Revealed: NIH research grants still frozen despite lawsuits challenging Trump order
The Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to keep a funding freeze in place, leaving researchers in limbo.
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Rep. Jamie Raskin @raskin.house.gov · 20/02/2025
I'd like to bring this multimillion-dollar photo-op to the attention of Elon Musk and DOGE. Instead of firing food inspectors and air traffic controllers and cancelling critical medical research at NIH, stop this outrageous waste of our people's tax dollars!
semafor.com
Homeland Security budgets $200m for new border ad campaign
In the ads, Kristi Noem praises President Trump and warns migrants in the US illegally that “we will find you.”
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Metabo_Dave @metabodave.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
This is happening everywhere, officially and unofficially.
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Jonathan Howard @joho.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Behold 3 fools/liars
Dr. Joseph marine says RFK has little to do with vaccines Dr. Martin Kulldorff says RFK will reduce vaccine hesitancy Vinay Prasad  says RFK will reduce vaccine hesitancy
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Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
1/29: First plane crash in 16 years in DC 1/31: Crash in Philly 2/5: Delta flight struck in Seattle 2/6: Flight wrecks in Alaska 2/10: Crash in Scottsdale 2/12: Military jet crashes in San Diego 2/16: Crash in Covington, GA 7 crashes since the WH congratulated itself for “restoring aviation safety”
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Brian Tyler Cohen @briantylercohen.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
American planes are crashing almost every day and the Secretary of Transportation is visiting the Daytona 500 and tweeting at Pete Buttigieg.
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James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
On the latest airline crash, by me (no paywall): fallows.substack.com/p/from-defun...
fallows.substack.com
From ‘Defund the Police’ to ‘Defund Air Traffic Control.’
This latest aviation mishap is not the new administration's fault. But it is inviting the next ones, which will be.
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Angie Rasmussen @angierasmussen.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Well that’s interesting www.reuters.com/world/us/fda...
reuters.com
Exclusive: FDA staff reviewing Musk’s Neuralink were included in DOGE employee firings, sources say
U.S. Food and Drug Administration employees reviewing Elon Musk’s brain implant company Neuralink were fired over the weekend as part of a broader purge of the federal workforce, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
We need Pete Buttigieg as a clear messenger, more than ever.
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Melody Joy Kramer @mkramer.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
A card that a 6-year-old made this weekend for an NIH employee.
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Ken Armstrong @bykenarmstrong.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
The Dep't of Health and Human Services laid off employees Saturday evening across some of its biggest agencies, including the FDA and CDC. Those laid off included people who evaluate the safety of medical devices. @rachelcohrs.bsky.social @bloomberg.com Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
US Health Department Layoffs Expand to Medicare, FDA
The Department of Health and Human Services laid off employees Saturday evening across some of its biggest agencies — the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, ...
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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The Trump administration began firing several hundred FAA employees just *weeks* after a fatal crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
huffpost.com
Trump Begins Firing FAA Air Traffic Control Staff Weeks After Fatal DC Plane Crash
One FAA employee suggested he was targeted over his criticism of Tesla and X. Both are owned by Elon Musk.
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John Light @johnalight.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
"The emails were 'from an "exec order" Microsoft email address' — not a government email address." apnews.com/article/doge...
apnews.com
Trump begins firings of FAA air traffic control staff just weeks after fatal DC plane crash
The Trump administration has begun firing several hundred Federal Aviation Administration employees, upending staff on a busy air travel weekend and just weeks after a fatal mid-air collision in Washi...
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