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Research: Professor McBride Murry has conducted research on African American parents and youth for over a decade and identified proximal, malleable protective factors that deter behavioral problems, including risk engagement, in youth. Using this information, she designed and implemented two randomized control trial, family-based preventive interventions programs, the Strong African American Families (SAAF) Program and the Pathways for African American Success (PAAS), and both have demonstrated efficacy and effectiveness in the enhancement of parenting and family processes as well as youths’ intrapersonal protective processes that, in turn, dissuaded youth from engaging in health compromising behaviors. A unique aspect of the PAAS program was the testing of a e-Health delivery modality for disseminating evidence-based programs in rural communities. Similar to SAAF, PAAS intervention effects were effective in delaying/deterring substance use and other risky behaviors by influencing parenting practices and youth protective factors (i.e. cognitive and emotional self-regulation), with greater programmatic effects demonstrated among families receiving the program via technology delivery format. 

Her most research work focuses on merging neuroscience and prevention science to examine effects of PAAS e-Health on emotional regulation and cognitive-control neural circuits among urban youth, and to ascertain whether PAAS e-Health induced changes in these circuits increase health promotive decision-making processes in youth (i.e., self-regulation, critical evaluation of potential risk opportunities) to dissuade engaging in risky behaviors. Professor McBride Murry’s overarching goal is to disseminate her evidence-based preventive intervention programs for uptake in community-based organizations, as well as schools and primary health care settings and in faith-based organizations and examine their efficacy and effectiveness in real-world settings.  

Teaching:  Professor McBride Murry’s teaching has included, Diverse Populations, a graduate course to promote awareness of ways  which social injustice imposed on subpopulations of individuals, families, and communities perpetuates disadvantage and disparities, Human Development and Prevention Science, designed to provide an interdisciplinary overview of prevention theories, research, and practice, as well as expand students’ understanding of the interconnectedness of context and human development to the design, development, and implementation of preventive intervention programs, and Public Health and Health Equity course, a required MPH course that prepares public health and medical interns to address public health disparities through policies and practices that benefit everyone, and to serve as active agents of health prevention and promotion in their professional and personal roles (whether teaching, research, or delivery health care services as clinical practice).