Shahrdad Lotfipour

Shahrdad Lotfipour, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, with joint appointments in the Departments of Emergency Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He leads the Translational Addiction Biology Laboratory, focusing on the neurobiological mechanisms of drug use, particularly nicotine's impact on the adolescent brain.

His research centers on developmental neuropsychopharmacology, investigating how early exposure to nicotine alters brain chemistry and increases vulnerability to addiction. Key areas include dopaminergic, serotonergic, and opioidergic systems, as well as epigenetic modifications linked to drug reward and dependence. The lab explores how non-nicotine constituents in tobacco smoke may enhance addiction, challenging traditional models of nicotine reinforcement.

The research output reflects a strong focus on addiction neuroscience, behavioral pharmacology, and translational models of substance use disorders, with implications for adolescent health and cessation therapies.

• Frances Leslie is a collaborator and co-lead of the research team.
• The lab actively trains post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates in interdisciplinary research.

Dr. Lotfipour’s lab includes a dedicated team of researchers and students from diverse academic backgrounds, contributing to projects in molecular neurobiology, behavioral testing, and public science communication. The UCI Behavioral Neuroscience Testing Core supports experimental work, and the lab engages in outreach through TEDx talks, podcasts, and interactive infographics.