Tonisha E Kearney-Ramos

I am a clinical neuroscientist focused on developing novel interventions for substance use disorders (SUDs) and related neuropsychiatric conditions. I lead a multidisciplinary research program that integrates neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and clinical-behavioral methods to advance both neuromechanistic understanding and therapeutic outcomes in addiction. Since joining the faculty at Duke, I have begun building a translational addiction neuromodulation & neuroimaging program centered on two primary aims: identifying and validating neural biomarkers to optimize neuromodulation therapies, and designing community-based clinical trials that support the real-world implementation of these interventions in demographically diverse populations, particularly within low-resource clinics in the Durham area.

My primary research interest lies in using functional brain imaging to investigate how cognition and behavior are encoded in the brain in relation to addiction risk and trajectory. Specifically, I use network-based neuroimaging to identify biomarkers of cognitive and behavioral dysfunction in SUDs, and to evaluate the impact of brain stimulation on brain organization and its therapeutic potential. I recently completed additional training at Columbia University’s Division on Substance Use Disorders, where I focused on clinical trial development and behavioral models to study the effects of TMS interventions on drug use, including both inpatient and outpatient research designs.

At Duke, the long-term goal of my research program is to bridge neuroscience and clinical practice by developing and deploying integrated, evidence-based treatments—combining brain stimulation with cognitive-behavioral and psychosocial interventions—and testing their effectiveness in real-world, community-based settings to improve the efficacy, accessibility, and equity of addiction care. I am also involved in community-based science education and aim to develop opportunities at Duke that will bring Duke researchers and trainees into conversation with diverse communities to make science and medical education more accessible.