The Trauma History Investigation of Neurodevelopment in Kids (THINK) Lab at Wayne State University School of Medicine is dedicated to understanding how early-life adversity, trauma, and environmental exposures influence brain development and mental health outcomes in children, adolescents, and adults. Our overarching goal is to identify neurobiological mechanisms and biomarkers that contribute to risk and resilience for fear-based disorders—including anxiety, PTSD, and suicidality—and to use this knowledge to inform prevention and intervention strategies.

Directed by Dr. Hilary Marusak, Associate Professor with tenure and Director of the Division of Cannabinoids in Neurodevelopment (CANDID), the THINK Lab integrates cutting-edge neuroscience, developmental psychopathology, and community engagement. We take a developmental, transdiagnostic, and translational approach to investigate how biological systems interact with environmental inputs—such as trauma, stress, pollution, and substance use—to shape trajectories of mental health and illness.