Research at Centre for Addiction Medicine
Explore the research profiles of our faculty members at the Centre for Addiction Medicine. Each profile provides direct links to their publications, scholarly work, and video presentations.
Dr. Pratima Murthy
Dr. Murthy is a pioneer in addiction psychiatry in India with extensive research on women and substance use disorders. As the current Director of NIMHANS, she has made significant contributions to national policies on substance use. Her work spans clinical research, epidemiology, and development of treatment protocols with a particular focus on alcohol use disorders and tobacco cessation. She has also been instrumental in developing training programs for addiction professionals across India.
Dr. Vivek Benegal
Dr. Benegal is renowned for his research on the neurobiology of addiction and genetic aspects of alcoholism. His work explores the biological underpinnings of addiction vulnerability, with seminal studies on early-onset alcoholism in India. He has conducted extensive epidemiological research on substance use patterns and contributed significantly to public health policy. Dr. Benegal has also been at the forefront of advocacy for evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment and harm reduction.
Dr. Prabhat Chand
Dr. Chand has pioneered telemedicine and digital interventions for addiction treatment in India. His innovations include virtual knowledge networks for capacity building among healthcare providers in remote areas through the NIMHANS ECHO model. His research focuses on technology-based solutions to bridge treatment gaps in addiction care, especially in resource-limited settings. Dr. Chand has also developed mobile applications for addiction management and recovery support.
Dr. Arun Kandaswamy
Dr. Kandaswamy’s research focuses on neuroimaging in addiction and treatment outcomes. He has conducted significant work on brain changes associated with substance use disorders using advanced imaging techniques. His studies have contributed to understanding the neural mechanisms of craving and relapse in addiction. Dr. Kandaswamy has also explored predictors of treatment response and developed protocols for comprehensive addiction assessment and management.
Dr. Lekhansh Shukla
Dr. Shukla specializes in opioid use disorders and has conducted important research on medication-assisted treatment approaches. His work includes innovation in technology-based interventions for addiction treatment and recovery monitoring. He has contributed to developing evidence-based protocols for managing complex cases of substance use disorders. Dr. Shukla also focuses on implementation science and translating research findings into clinical practice.
Dr. Jayant Mahadevan
Dr. Mahadevan’s research centers on alcohol use disorders and dual diagnosis conditions. He has made important contributions to understanding addiction in special populations, including studies on trauma and substance use. His clinical research includes evaluating novel pharmacotherapies and behavioral interventions for addiction. Dr. Mahadevan has also developed assessment tools and protocols for managing comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders.
Dr. Narasimha GVL
Dr. Narasimha specializes in behavioral addictions, with significant contributions to research on gaming and internet addiction in India. His work encompasses epidemiological studies on emerging addictive behaviors in youth populations. Dr. Narasimha has developed screening and assessment tools adapted to the Indian context. He is also focused on addiction psychiatry education and training of mental health professionals across various settings.
Dr. Gitanjali Narayanan
Dr. Narayanan from the Department of Clinical Psychology focuses on addiction neuroscience and cognitive-behavioral interventions for substance use disorders. Her research explores cognitive and neuropsychological aspects of addiction, with special emphasis on developing culturally-sensitive assessment tools. She has made significant contributions to understanding executive function deficits in addiction and designing cognitive remediation approaches. Dr. Narayanan also works on addiction in special populations and novel therapeutic techniques.
Dr. Shreedevi Kumar
Dr. Kumar from the Department of Psychiatric Social Work specializes in psychosocial interventions for substance use disorders and family therapy approaches. Her research examines social determinants of addiction and recovery, with a focus on community-based rehabilitation models. She has developed family intervention protocols and caregiver support programs for families affected by addiction. Dr. Kumar’s work also addresses gender-specific issues in addiction treatment and the integration of social work principles into addiction care.