Steven Laviolette

Steven Laviolette is a Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario. He holds a Ph.D. and B.Sc. from the University of Toronto. His laboratory investigates neuropsychiatric disorders (addiction, depression, schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety) through neuropharmacology and neurodevelopment, focusing on cannabinoids, opioids, and nicotine. Key research areas include molecular signaling in prefrontal cortex-amygdala-hippocampus circuits, neurodevelopmental impacts of adolescent drug exposure, and therapeutic applications of phytocannabinoids like CBD.

Research explores how THC and CBD modulate emotional processing, opioid/nicotine addiction mechanisms, and long-term neuroadaptations from developmental drug exposure. Articles reveal consistent themes: cannabinoid interactions with dopaminergic/serotonergic systems, fear/aversion memory pathways, and prefrontal cortical dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. Neurodevelopmental studies highlight persistent anxiety/depression phenotypes from adolescent nicotine or THC exposure.

• C.I.H.R. New Investigator Fellowship
• Early Researcher Award (Ontario)
• Young Investigator Award (N.A.R.S.A.D)
• New Investigator Award (Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation)
• Leader’s Opportunity Fund (Canada Foundation for Innovation)
• Faculty Scholar's Award (Western Ontario)

Laviolette mentors 25+ graduate students and 17 postdoctoral researchers, directing a lab with collaborations across Western Ontario departments (Psychiatry, Physiology, Chemistry). He serves on CIHR review panels and the Canadian Institute for Military/Veteran’s Health Research, previously chairing the Ontario Mental Health Foundation review committee.