Dr. Gray’s research program focuses on understanding and improving the treatment of addiction and related psychiatric conditions. His work integrates psychiatric genetics, neurobiology, and health services research to: (1) identify biological mechanisms underlying substance use and related phenotypes and inform new treatments; and (2) improve care for both military and civilian populations affected by addictive disorders.

His research spans several areas:

1. The genetic and neurobiological architecture of addiction and comorbid conditions (e.g., anxiety, PTSD, pain).
2. Military health services research aimed at improving care for service members who engage in harmful alcohol use.
3. The evaluation of novel and emerging interventions, including collaborative work on psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Dr. Gray’s work frequently uses large-scale datasets and advanced statistical genetic methods, including genome-wide association studies, causal inference approaches (e.g., Mendelian randomization, pharmacoepidemiology), and machine learning/artificial intelligence.

His research has been supported by multiple federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health. He is the Principal Investigator of an NIAAA R01 focused on translating genome-wide association study findings on alcohol use into targets for medication development.