معرفی
Dr. Louisa Picco is an NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow and Program Lead for Drug Policy and Harm Reduction at the Monash Addiction Research Centre (MARC), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. She is actively involved in research on prescription opioid harms, mental health, and stigma, with a strong focus on public health policy and digital interventions.
Education:
- PhD, Examination Of Prescription Opioidrelated Risks Using Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs And Clinical Screening Tools, Monash University (2022)
- MPH, Deakin University (2006)
- BAppSc(FoodScNut), Deakin University (2003)
Her research interests center on addiction, prescription opioid risks, drug policy, harm reduction, and mental health stigma. She investigates how prescription drug monitoring programs can mitigate opioid-related harms and improve patient safety. Her work also explores digital health solutions and health literacy in opioid safety, contributing to public health and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in leveraging data and technology for public health impact, including AI-based screening for opioid use disorder, systematic reviews on pain in opioid treatment, and evaluations of naloxone access and PDMP implementation. Her work spans clinical, policy, and community-based research, often in interdisciplinary collaboration.
Scientific Awards:
- 2024-25 Premier's Award for Health and Medical Research (Public Health Award)
- APSAD 2022 Conference Registration Scholarship
- CPDD and NIDA Women & Sex/Gender Junior Investigator Travel Award (2024)
- CPDD Travel Award for Early Career Investigators (2025)
- Monash Addiction Research Centre (MARC) 2023 PhD Publication Prize Award
Dr. Picco has secured over $1.8 million in competitive Australian research funding as a lead investigator and has contributed as a Co-Investigator to more than $8 million in research funding in Singapore. She is currently leading the NHMRC-funded project Optimising the investment in real-time prescription drug monitoring (2023–2027) and is a Chief Investigator on Empowering consumers with health literacy in opioid safety. She is accepting PhD students and collaborates extensively with researchers in Australia and internationally. Her work is supported by strong networks in addiction research, public health, and policy implementation.
She is affiliated with the Monash Addiction Research Centre, a leading hub for addiction research, where she contributes to interdisciplinary projects, mentorship, and knowledge translation. Her team engages in co-design of digital tools and real-world implementation of harm reduction strategies.
