Stella Vlachou

Dr. Stella Vlachou is an Associate Professor in Psychology at the School of Psychology, Dublin City University (DCU), where she serves as Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit within the Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory. She holds a B.Sc. in Psychology (2001) and a Ph.D. in Neuropsychopharmacology (2006) from the University of Crete, Greece, graduating first in her cohort. Her academic roles include former Chairperson of the BSc in Psychology Programme (2018-2022), International Convenor for the School of Psychology (2019-2023), and Associate Dean for External Engagement and Internationalisation (2021-2024).

Her research explores neuropsychopharmacology, focusing on:

• Interactions between drugs of abuse (nicotine, cocaine, cannabinoids) and brain reward systems
• Role of endogenous cannabinoid and GABA_B receptors in behavior, addiction, and neuropsychiatric disorders
• Effects of alkaloid/flavonoid compounds on drug dependence
• Animal models of sensorimotor disorders and impulsivity

Her publications emphasize GABA_B receptor modulation, cannabinoid neuropharmacology, and addiction mechanisms, with recent work expanding into cognitive processing and phytocannabinoid therapeutics.

Awards & Honors:

• Marie Curie Fellowship (2003)
• TRDRP Post-doctoral Fellowship (2009)
• President's Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Multiple FENS/EBPS travel awards and academic excellence scholarships

She leads the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, mentoring graduate students and research assistants. Her lab has secured funding from NIH, EU, and California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program. Current projects include the role of GABA_B receptors in neuropsychiatric disorders and cannabinoid interactions during neurodevelopment.