Suchismita Ray, Ph.D.
The mission of the Addiction Neuroimaging Lab is to elucidate the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying addictive behaviors by utilizing cognitive tasks, functional magnetic resonance imaging and computational tools.
Research Overview
Advancing Addiction Recovery Through Neuroscience
Dr. Ray’s research activities are geared toward improving the precision of interventions for individuals with opioid and other drug use disorders.
My mission is to examine the cognitive, behavioral, and brain mechanisms underlying drug addiction using experimental tasks and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and to develop effective behavioral and pharmacological interventions.
My vision is to disseminate research findings from my laboratory to the clinicians in order to decrease drug use, relapse, and overdose deaths.
Research Team
The people behind the science
Lauren Curcio
Research Assistant
lrc125@scarletmail.rutgers.edu
Bilal Hussain
Doctoral Student
bh525@shp.rutgers.edu
Jennifer McMaster
Doctoral Student
mcmastje@shp.rutgers.edu
Timothy Bristol
Doctoral Student
tab253@shp.rutgers.edu
Surabhi Dutta
Doctoral Student
duttasu@shp.rutgers.edu
Saurabh Agarwal
Doctoral Student
sa2225@shp.rutgers.edu
Ahmed Sabra
Volunteer student, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
afs110@njms.rutgers.edu
Ann Ellis
Doctoral Student
Funding & Grants
Supported Research Programs
Federal, foundation, and institutional funding advancing predictive modeling of treatment responses
National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse
$3,182,640
Combined guanfacine and mindfulness meditation as an adjunct to buprenorphine maintenance in opioid use disorder
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National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse (Award number 1R61DA059906-01A1 NIH R61/R33 (R01 Equivalent)).
Total Budget: $3,182,640.00. (MPI: Helen Fox, Indiana University)
Role: Principal Investigator
- 09/30/24-8/31/29
Rutgers University Equity and Inclusion
$6,000
Faculty Diversity Collaborative. The Affinity Group
- 04/23/24-11/30/25
Rutgers University Brain Imaging Center PILOT grant on the new PRISMA
$
Acute mindfulness intervention effects on mood, anxiety, emotional regulation, and resting state brain signal in women opioid users
- 06/01/21-08/31/22
Rutgers School of Health Professions-Dean’s Grant Award
$35,000
A pilot study to examine the efficacy of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention on brain response, emotional regulation, and stress in women opioid users
- 09/30/24-8/31/29
Rutgers-Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology
$9,312
Trauma related neurobiological predictors of adverse child outcomes: Secondary analysis of the Healthy Brain Network database
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Rutgers-Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (214:205740).
Trauma related neurobiological predictors of adverse child outcomes: Secondary analysis of the Healthy Brain Network database.
Total Budget: $ 9,312
Role: Principal Investigator
Co-Principal Investigator: Hien
- 2/1/2018 – 10/30/2018
National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
$1,413,000
Guanfacine for women with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): A multisite study using a telehealth approach
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National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Award number 1R01AA031662-01)
Budget: $1,413,000.00 (100 individuals with alcohol use disorder will be tested at the Rutgers Site and 100 individuals with alcohol use disorder will be tested at the Indiana University Site)
Role: Principal Investigator
Co-PI: Helen Fox, Indiana University
- 9/27/24-8/31/29
Rutgers School of Health Professions-Dean’s Grant Award
$35,000
Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement as an Adjunct to Buprenorphine Medication in Opioid Use Disorder
- 5/21 - 8/23
Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey Grant Award
$53,000
Utilization of an evidence-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction intervention to improve mental and physical health and decrease drug craving and use in a vulnerable population in Newark
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Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey grant award (Grant # 3888).
Role: Principal Investigator
- 1/1/2021-06/30/2022
Rutgers University-Newark Initiative for Multidisciplinary Research Teams Award, IMRT Award
$103,000
Negative affect mechanisms underlying opioid use in lab and daily life
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Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Co-Principal Investigator: Delgado
- 7/1/2019–6/30/2023
Publications & Impact
Selected Research Publications
2025
Neural responses to monetary gain and loss in individuals recovering from opioid use disorder compared to controls
Bhanji, J. P., Husain, B., Stringfellow, J., Delgado, M. R., Ray, S.
Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (in press, 2025)
2025
Blunted anterior midcingulate response to reward in opioid users is normalized by prefrontal transcranial magnetic stimulation
Husain, B., & Ray, S.
Cureus, 17(5), e83895; https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20240612-02
2024
Self-perceived well-being among doctor of physical therapy students in the United States in 2022 compared to 2021
Kietrys, D. M, Anderson, E. Z., Parrott, J. C., Ray, S.
Journal of Wellness, 5 (3), Article 5
2024
Effectiveness of acupuncture and brief telehealth intervention for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder
Lu, W., Chen, Y., Gao, N., Wang, K., Srijeyanthan, J., Beninato, J., Oursler, J., Lin, K. W., Ben-Ari, T. Z., Ray, S., & Caldwell, B.
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 1– 11. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20240612-02
2024
Relationship between oral health and mental health in individuals with substance use disorder: A short commentary
Vadrevu, A., Lu, W., Ray, S.
SciBase Crit Care Emerg Med. 2(1): 1005
2024
A pilot study to examine the relationship between oral health and mental health in individuals with SUD
Vadrevu, A., Lu, W., Ray, S.
Crit Care Emerg Med. 2(2): 1009
2024
Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement in opioid use disorder: Extended emotional regulation and neural effects and immediate effects of guided meditation in a pilot sample
Ray, S., Bhanji, J., Kennelly, N., Fox, H. C., Budsock, P.D., Delgado, M., Cooperman, N.A., Garland E. L.
Explore (NY), 20(3):434-438.
Achievements
Awards & Honors
2025
Recipient of SHP Excellence in Research Award
2024
Nominated for New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award
2022
Nominated for New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award
2021
Dr. Ray’s article published in a high impact journal (NeuroImage: Clinical, 2021; Structural MRI and functional connectivity features predict current clinical status and persistence behavior in prescription opioid users) was highlighted in Rutgers news and telecasted in New Jersey radio channel 101.5.
2012
Editorial Board member: Journal of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (2012 – present)
Get Involved
Join our Research
Interested in advancing your research? Reach out to Dr. Ray
to learn more about opportunities to get involved.
