Dr. Kim Fromme

Biography

Kim Fromme is a Professor Emeritus in Clinical Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and the Director of the Studies on Alcohol, Health, Risky Activities (SAHARA) Laboratory. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington and is a Fellow and past President of the Society of Addiction Psychologists (Division 50) of the American Psychological Association. Her research focuses on the etiology and consequences of alcohol abuse and risk-taking behaviors among adolescents and young adults. Dr. Fromme has secured over $2.3 million in grant funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. She conducted the Genes New Experiences Study (GENES), which included DNA data collection from individuals in the 6-year longitudinal "UT Experience!" study of college students. In the GENES project, Dr. Fromme and her team examined approximately 6.9 million genetic markers to calculate individual-specific estimates of genetic liability for various behavioral and psychological outcomes. Additionally, she conducts alcohol challenge studies in simulated bar laboratories, investigating the effects of alcohol intoxication on decision-making processes, impulsive behavior, and individual differences in alcohol response. Currently, she collaborates with Dr. Elizabeth Lippard from Psychiatry at the Dell Medical School to explore possible mechanisms explaining the comorbidity of Alcohol Use Disorders and Bipolar Disorder, with findings aimed at developing new prevention strategies for alcohol abuse and potentially hazardous behaviors.

Research Interests