Alex completed his BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience at Concordia University in Montreal, where his interest in psychoactive substances and mental health was sparked. His research explored the interaction between ovarian hormones and ketamine in the treatment of depression. This led him to pursue an MSc in Experimental Pharmacology at UCL’s School of Pharmacy, where he investigated the synaptic correlates of benzodiazepine tolerance. Keen to embrace a multidisciplinary approach to research, Alex went on to study Clinical Neuroscience at UCL’s Queen Square Institute of Neurology, completing a dissertation on the structural brain changes associated with repeated ayahuasca use in members of the Santo Daime church.

After his studies, Alex joined the Centre for Evidence-Based Drug Policy, where he became Director of Research, advocating for evidence-based harm reduction strategies and improved drug policy governance in the UK. He also took on a role as a Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he focuses on developing harm reduction interventions.

Currently, Alex is in the first year of his PhD, conducting a rotation in Geoff Bird’s lab. He is investigating the effects of drug use on theory of mind and how these may influence keyworker-client relationships in drug treatment services.

Alex is passionate about interdisciplinary research that bridges neuroscience, policy, and public health. Beyond academia, he advocates for the translation of scientific evidence into policy and practice to improve the lives of people affected by addiction and prohibition. In his spare time, Alex enjoys exploring the English country side and cooking.