About

Dr. Mollie A. Monnig is an Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of New Mexico and a clinical internship at Harvard Medical School's McLean Hospital. Following her postdoctoral fellowship at Brown's Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, she received an NIAAA Career Development Award in 2016. Her research focuses on brain-behavior relationships in the context of alcohol use, chronic disease, and aging. Her work includes studies on the effects of alcohol on the gut-brain axis, immune responses to alcohol, inflammaging markers in older adults, and the impact of alcohol on the gut microbiota in people living with HIV. Dr. Monnig also serves as the Director for Research Capacity for Brown's COBRE Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation (CADRE). Her research aims to elucidate the biological and social mechanisms underlying substance use and its health consequences.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Political Science
• Medicine
• Developmental psychology
• Gender studies
• Nursing
• Internal medicine
• Demography
• Family medicine
• Environmental health
• Psychiatry

Selected publications

• Addressing Chronic Steatotic Liver Disease through Community Partnerships, Integrated Behavioral Interventions, and Point-of-Care Diagnostics.

  PubMed · 2026-04-01

  article

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of a community- based, point-of-care (POC) screening and intervention model for Metabolic and Alcohol-associated Liver Disease (MetALD) in an underserved Rhode Island population. APPROACH: A partnership between the Brown University CADRE and Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic (CEHC) utilized electronic health record (EHR) screening followed by on-site FibroScan® imaging and a Motivational Interviewing (MI) lifestyle intervention. RESULTS: Preliminary pilot data identified liver stiffness (fibrosis) in 21% of participants and steatosis in 57%. All identified patients were previously unaware of their condition. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating POC diagnostics with culturally attuned behavioral interventions in a community- centric clinic can bypass traditional barriers to care and detect "silent" liver disease at treatable stages.

  Publisher

• Neuroimmune Mechanisms Underlying MDMA-Assisted Therapy in Veterans with Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder

  Alcohol · 2026-04-07

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Acute changes in immune biomarkers under low‐ and moderate‐dose alcohol in light and heavy drinkers: A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial

  Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research · 2025-06-30 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption modulates immune function, in part by promoting microbial translocation. This process is thought to trigger an acute-phase immune response, contributing to alcohol-related immune modulation. However, most evidence on these effects arises from preclinical models. Additionally, existing human studies lack a placebo control, rely on a single alcohol dose, or fail to account for individual drinking history. METHODS: This study examined in vivo concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a marker of microbial translocation), acute-phase proteins, cytokines, and chemokines under low-dose alcohol, moderate-dose alcohol, and placebo using a within-subjects design in light and heavy drinkers. Participants (N = 32) were light drinkers (n = 15) and nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers (n = 17). Groups did not differ on demographics. Participants received each dose condition in randomized order. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at hourly intervals for 4 h. Plasma concentrations of LPS, acute-phase proteins (LPS binding protein [LBP], soluble cluster of differentiation 14 [sCD14], and soluble cluster of differentiation 163 [sCD163]), and cytokines/chemokines (interleukin 6 [IL-6], interleukin 8 [IL-8], interleukin 10 [IL-10], monocyte chemoattractant protein [MCP-1], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) were quantified using immunoassays. Linear mixed models tested effects of dose condition, drinker group, time, and the three-way interaction. Further analyses tested associations of LPS, LBP, sCD14, and sCD163 with cytokines/chemokines. RESULTS: The three-way interaction of dose by group by time was significant for IL-6 (p = 0.042), IL-8 (p = 0.039), MCP-1 (p = 0.001), and TNF-α (p = 0.001). LPS was associated with concentrations of interleukins. Levels of sCD163 were 43% higher in heavy drinkers overall. Heavy drinkers exhibited apparent conditioned peripheral immune suppression, wherein the expectation of alcohol elicited selective immunosuppressive responses. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers novel in vivo evidence that alcohol-induced changes in immune function are dependent on both acute dose and chronic drinking behavior.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Social network characteristics of COVID-19 vaccination and preventive health behaviors: Cross-sectional findings from the US northeast during the early COVID-19 pandemic

  Vaccine X · 2024-10-29 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: The link between individuals' vaccine attitudes and their social networks has been widely studied, but less is known about how these networks impact broader health behaviors like precautionary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Egocentric social network data were collected from June 7-21, 2021, via an online survey by researchers based at the Brown University School of Public Health. The sample (n = 173) was recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Participants reported their COVID-19 precautionary behaviors and those of up to 5 of their closest social network contacts (SNCs, n = 851). The primary outcome was the mean of 13 CDC-recommended precautionary behaviors (PBS). Covariates included SNCs' COVID-19 testing, hospitalization, vaccination, disease experiences, social distancing adherence, and encouragement of participants' testing and vaccination. Associations between PBS and SNC attributes were assessed using chi-square tests, t-tests, and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). Results: Eighty percent of participants had received at least one vaccine dose. The PBS ranged from 0.38 to 3.00 (M = 2.3) and was positively associated with SNCs' adherence to social distancing guidelines (0.33, p < 0.001), encouragement of social distancing (0.33, p < 0.001), encouragement of vaccination (0.25, p = 0.001), mask-wearing behavior (0.20, p = 0.008), receiving the vaccine (0.20, p = 0.01), and encouragement of testing (0.17, p < 0.05). Discussion: The clustering of precautionary behaviors in social networks highlights the potential of leveraging these networks to promote public health interventions. The identification of clusters of unprotected communities at risk underscores the need to address disparities and integrate interpersonal factors into future pandemic responses.

  PublisherDOI

• Design and methodology of the first open-label trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder: Considerations for a randomized controlled trial

  Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications · 2024-07-20 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occur and are associated with more severe symptomatology than either disorder alone, increased risk of suicide, and poorer response to existing treatments. A promising therapeutic intervention is the integration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and psychotherapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated MDMA- assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) as a Breakthrough Therapy for PTSD based on results from six Phase 2 clinical trials. Case data from the first study evaluating MDMA-AT study for AUD found the treatment was well tolerated and alcohol use was significantly reduced post treatment. Methods: = 12) with PTSD and AUD. Neuroimaging and biomarker data are included to evaluate brain changes, and neuroinflammation, pre-post treatment. Conclusions: The clinical component (comorbidity) and the regulatory processes (Schedule I drug) for setting up this clinical trial are long and complex. The research community will benefit from this work to establish common clinical trial outcomes, standardized protocols, and risk assessments for FDA approval. Clinicaltrialsgov: NCT05943665.

  PublisherDOI

• Alcohol-associated liver disease and behavioral and medical cofactors: unmet needs and opportunities

  Frontiers in Public Health · 2024-04-04 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Chronic liver disease is a leading cause of death in the US and is often preventable. Rising burden, cost, and fatality due to liver disease are driven by intensified alcohol use in the US population and the contributions of comorbid conditions. This mini-review focuses on the topic of liver health in the context of chronic, behavioral cofactors of disease, using research-based examples from the Brown University Center for Addiction and Disease Risk Exacerbation (CADRE). Our aim is to illustrate the current challenges and opportunities in clinical research addressing liver health in the context of behavioral and medical comorbidity and to highlight next steps in this crucial area of public health research and clinical care.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Linking alcohol use to Alzheimer’s disease: Interactions with aging and APOE along immune pathways

  Medical Research Archives · 2024-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Although it is known that APOE genotype is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, development is a multifactorial process. Alcohol use is a contributor to the epidemic of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in the US and globally, yet mechanisms are not fully understood. Carriers of the APOE ε4 allele show elevated risk of dementia in relation to several lifestyle factors, including alcohol use. In this review, we describe how alcohol interacts with APOE genotype and aging with potential implications for Alzheimer's disease promotion. Age-related immune senescence and "inflammaging" (i.e., low-grade inflammation associated with aging) are increasingly recognized as contributors to age-related disease. We focus on three immune pathways that are likely contributors to Alzheimer's disease development, centering on alcohol and APOE genotype interactions, specifically: 1) microbial translocation and immune activation, 2) the senescence associated secretory phenotype, and 3) neuroinflammation. First, microbial translocation, the unphysiological movement of gut products into systemic circulation, elicits a proinflammatory response and increases with aging, with proposed links to Alzheimer's disease. Second, the senescence associated secretory phenotype is a set of intercellular signaling factors, e.g., proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, growth regulators, and proteases, that drives cellular aging when senescent cells remain metabolically active. The senescence associated secretory phenotype can drive development of aging-diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Third, neuroinflammation occurs via numerous mechanisms such as microglial activation and is gaining recognition as an etiological factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. This review focuses on interactions of alcohol with APOE genotype and aging along these three pathways that may promote Alzheimer's disease. Further research on these processes may inform development of strategies to prevent onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease and to delay associated cognitive decline.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Social Network Characteristics of Covid-19 Vaccination and Preventive Health Behaviors: Cross-Sectional Findings from the Us Northeast During the Early Covid-19 Pandemic

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• COVID-19-Related Stressors and Clinical Mental Health Symptoms in a Northeast US Sample

  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2023-01-12 · 13 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Research has linked specific COVID-19-related stressors to the mental health burden, yet most previous studies have examined only a limited number of stressors and have paid little attention to their clinical significance. This study tested the hypothesis that individuals who reported greater COVID-19-related stressors would be more likely to have elevated levels of anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and serious psychological distress. METHODS: An online survey was administered to a convenience sample from 18 June to 19 July 2020, in US states that were most affected by COVID-19 infections and deaths at the time. Individuals who were 18 or older and residents of five Northeast US states were eligible to participate (N = 1079). In preregistered analyses, we used logistic regression models to test the associations of COVID-19 stressors with symptoms on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and K6, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. RESULTS: COVID-19-related stressors (i.e., essential worker status, worry about COVID-19 infection, knowing someone hospitalized by COVID-19, having children under 14 at home, loneliness, barriers to environmental rewards, food insecurity, loss of employment) were associated with meeting thresholds (i.e., positive screening) for anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and/or serious psychological distress. Loneliness and barriers to environmental rewards were associated with all mental health outcomes. LIMITATIONS: We used a non-probability sample and cannot assume temporal precedence of stressors with regard to development of mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings link specific stressors to the mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Immune biomarkers in non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers who used a probiotic supplement for 30 days: An open-label pilot study

  Alcohol · 2023-08-19 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant F31AA021631

  NIH · $27k · 2013

• Administrative Core

  NIH · $34.9M · 2019–2029

• Immune Activation and Neurodegeneration in HIV Infection and Heavy Drinking

  NIH · $1.1M · 2016–2023

Frequent coauthors

• Peter M. Monti

  55 shared

• Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

  Providence College

  28 shared

• Alexander W. Sokolovsky

  John Brown University

  25 shared

• Robert J. Thoma

  University Hospital of Zurich

  24 shared

• Ronald A. Yeo

  University of New Mexico

  24 shared

• Hayley Treloar Padovano

  Brown University

  23 shared

• Bharat Ramratnam

  Brown University

  22 shared

• Jaqueline C. Avila

  University of Massachusetts Boston

  22 shared

Labs

• Mollie Monnig Research LabPI

Education

• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

  University of New Mexico

• M.D., Clinical Internship

  Harvard Medical School's McLean Hospital

Awards & honors

• NIAAA Career Development Award (2016)