"Behind the Masthead" special series: a conversation with Kalina Fahey, PhD"Behind the Masthead" special series: a conversation with Kalina Fahey, PhD
Behind the Evidence
Guest host Casey Calver, PhD talks with researcher Kalina Fahey, PhD about how shifting US funding priorities affect LGBTQ+ substance use research and early‑career paths. They discuss minority stress, experimental methods, and the personal and professional adjustments required to keep important work going.
30:25•26 May 2026
Science, Stress and Shifting Priorities with Kalina Fahey, PhD
Episode Overview
- Federal de‑prioritisation of research on sexual and gender minority populations has paused or stalled projects focused on substance use and health disparities.
- Experimental stress‑induction methods can show how identity‑based minority stress raises alcohol craving and stress levels in real time.
- Safe social spaces such as gay bars can both support identity and carry risks related to alcohol, and this complex link needs careful study.
- Early‑career researchers are encouraged to broaden quantitative and methodological skills so they remain employable while still pursuing diversity‑focused questions when possible.
- Community support, advocacy efforts and fulfilling roles outside work can help researchers cope with policy setbacks and maintain hope.
“We know that the gaps in our understanding of substance use and related comorbidities among marginalised populations aren't going to disappear just because they've been deprioritised by this administration.”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction through science as well as personal grit? This conversation zooms in on the human cost of shifting research priorities, especially for marginalised communities. Guest host Casey Calver, PhD chats with early-career substance use researcher Kalina Fahey, PhD, whose work has been shaken by US federal policy changes.
Kalina focuses on health disparities and substance use among sexual and gender minority populations, and shares how her projects stalled when funding for research on these groups was deprioritised.
As Casey puts it, “We know that the gaps in our understanding of substance use and related comorbidities among marginalised populations aren't going to disappear just because they've been deprioritised by this administration.” Kalina breaks down her experimental work on minority stress, explaining how personalised “guided meditation”–style stress scripts can show, in real time, how identity-based stress raises alcohol craving and stress levels.
She talks about the challenge of moving beyond one-off surveys to methods that actually test cause and effect, and how this could eventually lead to just‑in‑time stress-management tools offering alternatives to drinking. You’ll also hear candid reflections on grief, burnout, and practical realities: grants in limbo, the risk of unemployment, and the pressure to shift towards broader topics or young adult drinking prevention to stay funded.
Kalina doesn’t pretend she bounced back instantly; she describes having “a little pity party” before adapting her plans and widening her skills. For students and early‑career researchers, there’s down‑to‑earth advice on building a flexible skill set so you can still study diversity and health, even when funding dries up. Threaded through it all is a quiet message of hope: community support, science advocacy, and even the grounding chaos of parenting can keep people going.
If you care about addiction science, LGBTQ+ health, and how policy decisions ripple into real lives, this conversation might have you asking what part you could play too.
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