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Dr. Paul Stokes
Dr. Stokes’ main research focus is the use of both PET and function MRI imaging techniques to investigate the role of the human dopamine system in psychosis and addictions. He is particularly interested in determining how genetic and environmental risk factors for psychosis and addiction affect human dopaminergic function. Dr. Stokes has recently published studies investigating whether THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis sativa, can produce dopamine release in both striatal and extrastriatal brain regions. He has also completed a twin study determining the relative influence of genes and environmental on presynaptic dopamine function, as well as a study investigating the role of the COMT val108/158met polymorphism on cortical fMRI activations.
Dr. Stokes studied medicine at Birmingham University, where he also completed an intercalated BSc. in Pharmacology. He completed basic and higher clinical psychiatric training at the Maudsley Hospital, London. Dr. Stokes’ PhD studies at Imperial College, London were supervised by Prof. Paul Grasby and more recently by Prof. Anne Lingford-Hughes. He is currently a senior clinical research fellow with the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Imperial College London and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist with West London Mental Health NHS Trust.
