Albert Arias, MD

Dr. Arias is an expert psychopharmacologist, with specialized expertise in clinical and translational research on alcoholism and addictions, pharmacogenetics. He is an experienced teacher at all levels of medical education, and has lead the development of innovative clinical services such as the nation-wide Veterans Affairs TeleAddictions Consult Service when he worked at the West Haven VA. He is a graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, and he completed his residency in psychiatry as well as a master’s degree in clinical and translational research at the University of Connecticut Health Center. He was on the faculty at UCONN School of Medicine for 5 years and then was a full-time faculty member at Yale University School of Medicine for 7 years in the department of psychiatry before joining VCU in 2018 as an associate professor and the Associate Division Chair for Addiction Psychiatry. He is board certified in Psychiatry by the ABPN and board certified in addiction medicine by ABPM. 

He is currently studying the effects of several anticonvulsant compounds on drinking behavior and other addictions in humans. Another focus of research is translational pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine for treating addiction and co-occurring disorders. He formerly received a K23 award from the NIAAA to study medication development and pharmacogenetics. He currently receives funding from the NIAAA and NIDA and is part of the VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies.

Disclosures: None