Lab Alumni

Lab alumni often remain engaged in our work through publications, consultation, and as collaborators.

Vivian Tsang, MD

Resident Researcher

Vivian is a psychiatry research track resident at the University of British Columbia. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Childhood Cannabinoid Clinical Trials to advance the investigation of new pharmacotherapies and is most interested in furthering research in addictions and concurrent disorders. Vivian held previous positions on UBC’s Senate, Vancouver City Council Advisory Committees, and represented the Faculty of Medicine to lobby for resources for youth mental health with BC’s Minister of Health. On the side, she heads a national charity, The HOPE Initiative Foundation which works to inspire innovative solutions to existing systems through student leadership and community outreach in Canada.

Andy Tai, BSc

PhD Graduate in Neuroscience at UBC

Jane Kim, BSc

MSc student in Experimental Medicine

Tam To, BA

Research Coordinator

Tam graduated from the Bachelor of Arts program at UBC with a major in Psychology and a minor in Commerce. She previously worked as a Communications, Media, and Events Assistant in the lab under the Work Learn program. During her time at the lab, she realized her interest in providing support to and learning about people who have lived and living experiences with substance use and concurrent disorders. She is especially interested in a promising pain and substance use management approach using a botanical formulation called TGIR ( Traditional Gastro-Intestinal Remedy) approved for use in Vietnam under the trade name Heantos-4 (H-4) and E-Mental Health solutions.

Outside of work, she loves to travel, learn about different cultures and languages as well as try local food!

Marisha Boyd, BSc, MSc Candidate

Project Coordinator

Marisha is a graduate from the University of British Columbia with a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience with a minor in Health & Society. She is currently a MSc in Applied Digital Health Candidate at the University of Oxford, where she applies her learnings from the lab in a variety of e-mental health and AI related courses and projects.

She manages the e-health platform RAMP (Risk Assessment and Management Platform) and leads a team of students in developing educational and therapeutic content for the platform. She also coordinates in-person and virtual events, including the annual Let’s Talk Overdose conference, alongside supporting a variety of other projects focused on e-health and improving mental health care. She is interested in how neuroscience, technology and policy can intersect to improve human and planetary health.

Gurpreet Chopra

Gurpreet completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and is interested in research relating to addictions and substance use. Having experience volunteering and working with marginalized and vulnerable people, such as those in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and on crisis lines, he is interested in helping mitigate the substance use, overdose, mental health, and housing crises affecting global and national health infrastructure. Gurpreet hopes to contribute to research relating to fentanyl, homelessness, and substance use disorders in vulnerable populations.

Arash Moghadam

Arash has received his medical degree from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and later became a certified addiction treatment physician. He gained firsthand clinical skills by working with people who use drugs in emergency rooms and addiction treatment clinics, then he immigrated to Canada and studied Master of Business Administration.

Katsy Concepcion, BSc

Research Assistant and Project Coordinator

Katsy completed a BSc in Neuroscience and Physiology with a minor in Health and Society from the University of British Columbia. She is interested in how technology and innovation can be utilized to build sustainable healthcare systems and improve planetary health. Katsy strives to create tangible change within vulnerable communities through leadership, advocacy, and community-building.

Milad Marghoob-Zamany

Milad is a fourth year undergraduate student studying Psychology and Gerontology at Simon Fraser University. His research interests include SUD’s along with, concurrent disorders, its correlates and psychopathology. Moreover, he’s also intrigued by the association between personality disorders (such as narcissism and psychopathy) and one’s risk for violence, along with the psychopathology and etiology of such disorders. Milad hopes that his time with at ACD lab will contribute to improving the lives of individuals afflicted by mental health and substance use issues.

Harjeev Sudan

Harjeev is a Behavioural Neuroscience student at UBC, returning to finish her 4th and final year of undergraduate studies after a year and a half of Co-op in various health-related positions. She is interested in learning about the intersections of neuroscience, addictions, and public health. Harjeev is pursuing a Directed Studies project to uncover drug distribution and availability across markets. In the future, she hopes to apply research knowledge in the field of public health policy.

Janet Suen, BSc

Staff member

Janet completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Dalhousie University in 2017. Through her studies, work, and volunteer activities, Janet has cultivated a passion for promoting mental wellness within underserved communities and vulnerable populations. She is interested in a wide-range of topics including trauma, self-compassion, social support, and substance use in the context of mental health and illness. Janet hopes to contribute to the growing field of e-health to reduce barriers in accessing mental health supports for all individuals.

Mohamed Khorshid, MD

Volunteer

Mohamed is a medical doctor who graduated from Zagazig University, Egypt. He appreciates the need for integrating mental health in all healthcare branches.

Samantha Nalliah, BSc, MD Candidate

E-Mental Health Volunteer

Samantha is a 4th year undergraduate student doing a Combined Major in Science combining Chemistry, Life Science, and Earth & Environmental Science. She is interested in how healthcare can be made more accessible for underserved and vulnerable populations. As a volunteer with ACD Research Group, Samantha hopes to contribute to the making of e-health tools that promote access to mental health resources.

Adam Hashi, BSc, MPH Candidate

Volunteer

Adam is a research volunteer in the ACD lab. He completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Ontario in 2020. His research interests include epidemiology, public and mental health. Adam hopes that his time in the ACD lab will increase his knowledge and exposure in these areas.

Khushi Thadani

Social Media Volunteer

Third-year psychology student at the University of British Columbia, aiming to apply psychological concepts into enhancing and reforming business and marketing strategies. Experienced in digital marketing, strategic planning and has intermediate experience in HR.

Hasti Fadakar, BSc, MD Candidate

Research Assistant and Research Coordinator

Hasti received a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of British Columbia. She is involved in fentanyl projects and is interested in investigating factors contributing to mental health, such as childhood trauma and substance use.