Our research lab collaborates with researchers and Vanderbilt and other universities. These collaborations include studies of the prevention of depression in children of depressed parents, social connectedness in families with Huntington’s Disease, psychosocial adjustment in children with cancer and their parents, and neurocognitive late effects in survivors of childhood cancer.
Vanderbilt University
Meredith Monsour, MD, is a senior resident in neurological surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with research interest in pediatric neurooncology. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, earning dual degrees: a B.S. in neuroscience and a B.A. in history and philosophy of science with departmental honors. Her undergraduate performance earned her induction into Phi Beta Kappa. She subsequently earned her M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where her academic excellence was recognized through induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. In 2024, Dr. Monsour joined the Stress and Coping Lab, where her work centers on neurooncology and the comprehensive impact of brain tumor diagnoses and treatments on pediatric patients’ health and wellbeing.
Her research specifically examines both immediate and long-term consequences of these interventions. She is particularly interested in tumor gene expression and peripheral biomarkers associated with neuroinflammation, seeking to understand how the intersection of tumor biology and stress or adversity contributes to neuroinflammation and subsequent cognitive decline. Her ultimate research goal is to develop targeted interventions that can mitigate the detrimental effects of brain tumor treatment on neurocognition while promoting neurocognitive recovery in pediatric patients.
In her free time, Meredith enjoys reading, yoga, horseback riding, and hiking with her dog, Kovu.
Kelly Watson, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Watson collaborates with our lab on research on families coping with Huntington’s Disease.
Adam Anderson, PhD, is Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Anderson collaborates with our lab in our neuroimaging research on children with cancer and the effects of stress on brain development.
David Cole, PhD, is Chair of the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt. Dr. Cole collaborates with our lab on research on the prevention of depression.
Michael Rutledge DeBaun, PhD, M.P.H., is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Vanderbilt University, J.C. Peterson Chair in Pediatric Pulmonology, and Director of the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease. Dr. DeBaun collaborates with our lab on research on cognitive functioning in children with sickle cell disease
Debra Friedman, MD., is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Pediatric Oncology; Leader, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Cancer Control and Prevention Program; and Director, Division of Hematology-Oncology at Vanderbilt. Dr. Friedman collaborates with our lab on research on childhood cancer survivorship.
Catherine Fuchs, MD., is Director of the Counseling Center at Vanderbilt University, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt. Dr. Fuchs collaborates with our lab on research on stress management in college students.
Judy Garber, PhD, is Professor of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt with joint appointments in the Departments of Psychology (Arts and Science) and Psychiatry. Dr. Garber collaborates with our lab on research on the prevention of depression.
Steve Hollon, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt. Dr. Hollon collaborates with our lab on research on the prevention of depression.
Sarah Jaser, PhD,is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Ian M. Burr Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes. She collaborates with our lab on research on coping with stress in children and adolescents.
Lori Jordan, M.D., PhD,is Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics in the divisions of Pediatric Neurology and Stroke in the Department of Neurology. She collaborates with our lab on research on congenital heart defects.
Maureen Sanger, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist in the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. Dr. Sanger collaborates with our lab in research on psychosocial effects in childhood cancer survivors and their parents.
Megan Saylor, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt. Dr. Sanger collaborates with our lab on research on language development in communication between children with cancer and their parents.
Sohee Park, PhD, is a Gertrude Conaway Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University, Professor of Psychiatry, and Professor of Medicine, Health and Society at Vanderbilt. Dr. Park collaborates with our lab on research on neurocognitive effects of treatment in children with brain tumors.
John ‘Jay’ Wellons, III, MD, MSPH, is a Professor of Neurological Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Professor of Pediatrics at Monroe Carrel Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Dr. Wellons collaborates with our lab on research on neurocognitive effects of treatment in children with brain tumors.
University of Vermont
Rex Forehand, PhD, is the Ansbacher Professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont. Dr. Forehand collaborates with our lab on research on the prevention of depression.
Gary Keller, MD., is Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont. Dr. Keller collaborates with our lab on research on the prevention of depression.
Ohio State University/Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Cyndi Gerhardt, PhD., is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at the Ohio State University. She collaborates with our lab on research on psychosocial processes in children with cancer and their parents.
Kathryn Vannatta, PhD, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychology at the Ohio State University. She collaborates with our lab on research on psychosocial processes in children with cancer and their parents.
Arizona State University
Linda Lueken, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University. Dr. Luecken collaborates with our lab on studies of stress, coping and attention, and the measure of responses to stress.
University of Washington
Lynn Katz, PhD, is Research Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington. She collaborates with our lab on research on psychosocial adjustment to cancer in children and their parents.
San Diego State University
V. Robin Weersing, PhD, is an Associate Professor at San Diego State University. She collaborates with our lab on research on the prevention of depression.
Toronto Hospital for Sick Children
James Whitlock, MD., is Director of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. He collaborates with our lab on studies of neurocognitive and psychosocial adjustment in children with cancer.