Medical student investigates brain stimulation therapy for addiction

For people struggling with methamphetamine addiction, treatment options remain limited.

“There are no FDA-approved medications to treat methamphetamine addiction,” said Roger Luong, a member of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) Class of 2026. “My research tries to solve this by taking a different approach.”

Luong’s research explored whether a noninvasive brain stimulation technique known as transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, could help reduce drug cravings in patients with methamphetamine use disorder. The project earned him a Letter of Distinction at VTCSOM’s annual Medical Student Research Symposium.

TMS delivers magnetic pulses to targeted areas of the brain associated with self-control and impulse regulation. By stimulating these regions, the therapy aims to strengthen neural pathways that help people resist cravings. 

The study was conducted at Carilion Clinic facilities in Roanoke under the mentorship of psychiatrist Anita Kablinger, with early collaboration from psychiatrist Sooraj John.

Luong designed and led a double-blinded clinical pilot study comparing patients who received active TMS treatment with those assigned to a sham control group that underwent the same procedures but did not receive the magnetic stimulation.

The results were encouraging.

While both groups reported reduced cravings, a common placebo effect in clinical trials, patients in the active iTBS group showed measurable improvement in drug abstinence. At the start of the study, about 17 percent of participants tested negative for methamphetamine. After treatment, that number doubled to about 33 percent among patients receiving the active intervention.

“Since this was a pilot trial with 11 participants, our primary goal was to see if the approach was feasible and well-tolerated,” Luong said. “Now that we’ve seen encouraging early results, it opens the door for larger future studies to build upon these findings.”

TMS is already used to treat conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, but its potential role in treating stimulant addiction remains largely unexplored. Luong’s work helps establish an early proof of concept for this approach.

For Luong, however, the most meaningful part of the project was not the data.

“The most meaningful part of this project was actually working directly with the patients,” he said. “When you’re sitting across from someone who’s tried everything and feels like they’re out of options, it really changes how you see the research.”

Seeing the resilience of participants strengthened his motivation to pursue clinical research alongside patient care.

“It gives you a sense of urgency to ask what we can do to help this group,” Luong said.

Kablinger said Luong demonstrated exceptional initiative and leadership throughout the project.

“Roger approached this project with extraordinary motivation and intellectual curiosity,” she said. “He came to Virginia Tech Carilion with significant prior research experience, and it quickly became clear that he was capable of leading every aspect of a clinical trial.”

The study is particularly notable because research into treatments for methamphetamine use disorder remains limited.

“Roger’s study exploring a shorter, more intensive form of transcranial magnetic stimulation is highly innovative," Kablinger said. "Although the pilot study included a small number of participants, the early signals of reduced cravings and increased abstinence demonstrate the feasibility of this approach and highlight the need for further investigation.”

She also noted that Luong’s analytical approach extends to his clinical training.

“He approaches clinical questions with the same rigor he brings to research,” Kablinger said. “He stays current with the literature, evaluates problems from multiple perspectives, and remains deeply committed to helping patients adhere to treatment and achieve better outcomes.”

Luong plans to pursue a career in psychiatry and hopes to continue integrating research into his clinical work.

“Research teaches you to stay curious,” he said. “It helps you look beyond the data and think about the people behind it.”

Receiving the Letter of Distinction, he said, comes as a result of his focus on the work and reflects the collective effort of his research team.

“While I’m honored to receive this recognition, I’ve always been most focused on asking ‘what can I do to leave a meaningful impact?’ I think when you pursue that pathway, awards and distinctions can tend to follow you,” Luong said. “What is nice about the award is that it highlights the work of our entire team. This project was truly a collaborative effort.”

VTCSOM Medical Student Research Symposium

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Medical Student Research Symposium will be held March 26, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. The event highlights student-led research across basic science, clinical research, and community health. Learn more at: https://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/academics/scientist-physician/research-symposium.html