Steven Shoptaw

Steven Shoptaw, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and Professor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He also serves as Vice Chair for Research in Family Medicine and Director of the Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, with an honorary appointment at the University of Cape Town.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, UCLA Department of Psychology & Education (1990)
• M.A. in Psychology, UCLA (1985)
• B.A. in Psychology, UCLA (1982)
• Postdoctoral training in Psychophysiology, UCLA NPI/VAMC, Sepulveda, CA (1991)

Research Interests:

Dr. Shoptaw’s research portfolio centers on the medical treatment of addiction and HIV prevention in the context of substance use. His translational work integrates basic science with community-based clinical trials, focusing particularly on methamphetamine and stimulant-use disorders among gay and bisexual men. He investigates neurobiological mechanisms, pharmacotherapies, behavioral interventions, and structural solutions such as housing and mobile-health initiatives to reduce health disparities and optimize HIV prevention.

Publication Trends:

Across more than 400 peer-reviewed articles, Dr. Shoptaw’s recent work demonstrates a strong emphasis on high-impact clinical trials (e.g., combination pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder), longitudinal cohort studies elucidating mortality and comorbidity risks, and global policy reviews addressing stimulant epidemics. His collaborative outputs frequently appear in top-tier journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Addiction, and AIDS and Behavior.

Scientific Awards:

• FRI Daniel Mendelsohn Young Investigator Award (1996)
• Friends Research Institute Mentoring Award (2000)
• Gingerelli Award Nomination for Ph.D. Dissertation (1990)

Advising & Grants:

Dr. Shoptaw has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on numerous NIH and CDC grants. Current roles include:

• Co-Principal Investigator, NIDA Clinical Trials Network Big South-West Node
• Principal Investigator and Director, Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services (CHIPTS)
• Protocol Chair, HPTN 094 (mobile medical unit study for opioid-use disorder and HIV)

Labs & Teams:

He directs the Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine at UCLA and leads multiple interdisciplinary teams spanning the UCLA Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, the NIDA Clinical Trials Network, CHIPTS, and international collaborations in South Africa and Vietnam.