Garth Terry, MD, PhD

Personal Statement

My research interests cover two main areas:

1) development and use of novel radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) in CNS disorders

2) cannabinoid pharmacology, and cannabis use disorder and comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders

My VA Career Development Award (VA equivalent of an NIH K-award) focuses on the translational development of imaging neuroinflammation with PET following repetitive blast mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In collaboration with David Cook’s lab, imaging neuroinflammation in a mouse model of repetitive mTBI provides an opportunity to compare imaging outcomes directly with histopathology in brain tissue, which is not possible in humans. In collaboration with Elaine Peskind, imaging neuroinflammation in Veterans with mTBI and persistent post-concussive symptoms provides neuroanatomical specificity to ongoing neuroinflammation, which to date has been informed using cerebrospinal fluid and serum biomarkers. To accomplish this, my laboratory evaluates and develops established and novel PET radioligands for biomarkers of neuroinflammation. Additionally, I am interested in developing novel radioligands for druggable targets for which there are no current, suitable radioligands available. I have several ongoing collaborations with other investigators at UW and VA in which I provide support with PET imaging.

As a clinician and researcher, I am interested in how patients use cannabis for perceived therapeutic effect, and the risks and adverse outcomes resulting from substantial or chronic cannabis use. These clinical patterns can now be placed into context with a better understanding of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which provide opportunity for more selective and safer therapeutic drug development. Due in part to the recentness of discovery of the ECS, one of my goals is to educate clinical providers on the preclinical and evidenced based research conducted to date on cannabis use and the ECS so they are better informed when discussing cannabis use with patients, and better prepared for understanding mechanisms of anticipated ECS-based medications currently under development. A second goal is to conduct research on cannabis use disorder and comorbid conditions, and identification of therapies that might better address a patient’s desired outcome from cannabis use, thereby reducing the likelihood of its associated risks.

Education

MIRECC Research Fellowship, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 2018
Psychiatry Residency, UCLA, 2015
MD, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2011
PhD (clinical neuroscience), Karolinska Institute (in the Graduate Partnership Program with the National Institute of Mental Health), 2009
BS, Haverford College, 2001

Department Affiliations

Other Affiliations

Department of Radiology

Recent Publications

Increased [(18)F]Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake in the Left Pallidum in Military Veterans with Blast-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Potential as an Imaging Biomarker and Mediation with Executive Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment.
(2024 Jul)
J Neurotrauma 41(13-14): 1578-1596
Terry G, Pagulayan KF, Muzi M, Mayer C, Murray DR, Schindler AG, Richards TL, McEvoy C, Crabtree A, McNamara C, Means G, Muench P, Powell JR, Mihalik JP, Thomas RG, Raskind MA, Peskind ER, Meabon JS

Systematic review and rationale of using psychedelics in the treatment of cannabis use disorder.
(2023)
Front Psychiatry 14(): 1144276
Phan AN, Terry GE

A randomized controlled clinical trial of prazosin for alcohol use disorder in active duty soldiers: Predictive effects of elevated cardiovascular parameters.
(2023 Feb)
Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken) 47(2): 348-360
Raskind MA, Williams T, Holmes H, Hart K, Crews L, Poupore EL, Thomas RG, Darnell J, Daniels C, Goke K, Hendrickson R, Terry G, Mayer C, Simpson T, Saxon A, Rasmussen D, Peskind ER

Contribution of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase to Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review.
(2021 Apr)
Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 6(2): 105-118
Niemela G, Terry GE

Repetitive Blast Promotes Chronic Aversion to Neutral Cues Encountered in the Peri-Blast Environment.
(2021 Apr 1)
J Neurotrauma 38(7): 940-948
Schindler AG, Terry GE, Wolden-Hanson T, Cline M, Park M, Lee J, Yagi M, Meabon JS, Peskind ER, Raskind MM, Phillips PEM, Cook DG

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