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Christi S Ulmer

Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences
HSR&D (152), 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705

Research Interests


  • Increasing patient access to Behavioral Sleep Medicine
  • Developing and disseminating behaviorally-based treatments for Insomnia Disorder
  • Exploring and understanding the health correlates of Sleep Disorders
  • Exploring and understanding trauma-associated sleep disturbances

Selected Grants


An evaluation of insomnia treatment to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2025

Sleep Quality and Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Risk in Adults with Hypertension

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2024

Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Sleep in Cancer

FellowshipCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2023

Fellowships, Gifts, and Supported Research


Path to Better Sleep + Virtual Coaching: The Effectiveness and Implementation of Internet-Based Self-Management Program for Insomnia in a Regional Healthcare System. · 2022 - 2026 Co-PI · Awarded by: Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development · $1,198,132.00 The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a coached version of PTBS and a scalable strategy for implementing Coached PTBS in VA care called Replicating Effective Programs for Digital Interventions (REP-DI). If effective, Coached PTBS implemented with REP-DI could expand Veteran access to insomnia treatment.
Developing a Shared Decision-Making Support Tool to Promote Evidence-based Treatment for Veterans with Post-concussive Sleep Conditions · 2022 - 2024 Co-Investigator · Awarded by: Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development · $229,845.00 Develop a tool that enables evidence-based, Veteran-centered management of sleep conditions among Veterans with mTBI through: 1) identifying sleep problems; 2) recommending guideline-concordant assessment and treatment strategies; and, 3) supporting Veteran-centered treatment selection.
Maintaining Implementation through Dynamic Adaptations · 2021 - 2025 Co-Investigator · Awarded by: VA Office of Research and Development QUERI · $1,020,000.00 This QUERI program is part of a comprehensive effort by the Veterans Health Administration to support the more rapid implementation of effective clinical practices into routine care. The overall goal of the MIDAS QUERI program is to reduce the variability in implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) by targeting late adopters. This will be accomplished by increasing adoption of three EBPs in late-adopting VHA facilities, comparing the effectiveness of three implementation strategies, and engaging clinical teams in dynamic, incremental adaptations to sustain EBP use.
Implementing Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (BBTI) treatment in Primary Care · 2020 - 2025 Co-Investigator · Awarded by: Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development · $1,199,675.00 The goals of this study are to evaluate implementation strategies and effectiveness of Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (BBTI) in a Primary Care Mental Health Integration programs at four VAMCs (Baltimore, Durham, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia).
Provider Supported Self-Management Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (Tele-Self-CBTI) · June 1, 2018 - May 31, 2022 PI · Awarded by: Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development · $1,099,303.00 The goal of this study is to evaluate an intervention combining Self-management CBTI with Nurse Support as a strategy for increasing Veteran access to CBTI.