Professor
|
Senior Scientist and Senior Science Advisor, Office of Drug Research and Surveillance | Collaborating Scientist, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Bruna Brands
Pharmacology and Toxicology
PhD
Location
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Address
33 Russell Street, Rm T407, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5S 2S1
Research Interests
clinical pharmacology, neuropharmacology, psychopharmacology
Appointment Status
Primary
Accepting
TBC - Contact faculty member for details
Qualification
- Ph.D. and M.Sc., Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Opioid addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder associated with significant personal and societal adverse consequences. Methadone is a long-acting opioid that has been effectively used to treat this condition for many decades. However, not all patients do well on methadone. The focus of Dr. Brands' research is to characterize individuals who do not do well in treatment by investigating the role played by pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors, the influence of co-morbid disorders (such as depression) and other drug use (such as smoking).
A second focus of Dr. Brands' research is to look at the changing face of opioid addiction vis-a-vis prescription opioid pain relievers.