معرفی
Professor Paolo Deluca is a Professor of Addiction Research at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Department of Addictions Sciences. With over twenty-five years of experience in the addiction field, he has contributed to numerous national and international research projects, securing significant funding from organizations like NIHR and the European Commission.
His educational background includes:
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Padua (1994)
- PhD in cognitive development from Lancaster University (2000)
Professor Deluca's research focuses on addiction, particularly alcohol, New Psychoactive Substances (Legal Highs), and prescription drugs misuse. He has pioneered work in Screening & Brief Intervention techniques and the application of Information Technologies in substance misuse prevention and treatment (eHealth & mHealth). His work often involves innovative approaches like transdermal alcohol monitoring and virtual reality-enhanced treatments, reflecting his expertise in managing national and international clinical trials and developing evidence-based interventions.
His recent publication portfolio demonstrates a strong emphasis on technology-assisted interventions for substance use disorders. Many studies investigate transdermal alcohol monitoring systems, contingency management approaches for alcohol use disorder (particularly in comorbid conditions with liver disease), and novel psychoactive substances. His work shows a clear progression toward integrating digital health technologies with traditional treatment approaches, with increasing focus on implementation science and real-world effectiveness.
Professor Deluca has secured substantial research funding for numerous projects:
- NIHR i4i AMI for Virtual Reality-enhanced Cue Exposure Treatment for cocaine dependence (2024-27)
- NIHR MHRG to establish Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2024-29)
- Deputy lead for South London NIHR CLAHRC/ARC Alcohol Theme (2018-2026)
- Co-applicant and programme manager of National Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Research Programme (SIPS)
- Multiple European Commission-funded projects including ReDNet, ALICE RAP, CODEMISUSED, CASSANDRA, and Psychonaut
As an educator, Professor Deluca leads the Research Methods module for the MSc in Addictions Studies and teaches on Novel Psychoactive Substances and Alcohol Policies. He also serves as a BSc Psychology tutor and research project supervisor. His public engagement includes collaboration with Science Gallery London on the "HOOKED" exhibition about addiction, where he participated in debates on internet-based addiction with young people.
Professor Deluca maintains active affiliations with the Addictions Clinical Academic Group and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research, which involves collaboration with the University of Hull, University of York, University of Kent, and various NHS Trusts. His association with the IoPPN Virtual Reality Lab underscores his commitment to innovative technology applications in addiction treatment research.
