Alexander Athanasopoulos

Background

About Alexander Athanasopoulos

I recently completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at the University of Sydney. My honours thesis involved testing novel therapeutics for alcohol-use disorder in preclinical models. I am interested in translational psychopharmacology, with a specific focus on the testing and development of novel pharmacotherapies that address the neurobiological changes implicated in substance-use disorders. In my research assistant role within the University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre, my focus is on testing novel pharmacotherapies in well-validated preclinical models of addiction and social dysfunction. I will soon begin my PhD candidature investigating the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for methamphetamine addiction. Using preclinical addiction models and contemporary neuroscience tools, this project will inform us of the preclinical efficacy of psilocybin for methamphetamine addiction, whilst contributing to our understanding of the neurobiological changes induced by psychedelic drugs for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In partnership with Psylo, our goal is to help inform the development of safe and accessible non-hallucinogenic 5HT2A agonists for those in need.