Research summary
Addiction is a major public health problem. In Canada, it is estimated that approximately a fifth of the population will suffer from an addiction during their lifetime, with alcohol being the most commonly abused substance.
As Canada Research Chair in Translational Addiction Research, Dr. James MacKillop is generating new and unique insights into addiction by integrating perspectives from multiple disciplines, such as psychology, psychiatry, economics, genetics and neuroscience. He and his research team are applying behavioural economics and neuroeconomics to better understand the maladaptive decision-making that is common in addictive behaviours. They are also shedding light on the mechanisms of behaviour change, using neuroimaging to develop new biomarkers, and expanding research into real-world clinical settings. Ultimately, they hope their findings will support improvements in addiction treatment.