We’re excited to announce that Marco Pravetoni, PhD, will be joining our department as the inaugural holder of the Rick L. Seaver Endowed Professorship for Brain Wellness funded by the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions. Dr. Pravetoni is an expert in the development of vaccines, antibody-based strategies, and small molecules to counteract opioid use disorders and overdose, approaches that can improve the lives of individuals living with substance use disorders or who are at risk of fatal overdoses. He is currently at the University of Minnesota Medical School where is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine, and a member of the Center for Immunology and the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction. He and his team are testing the first in-human vaccine against the euphoric and toxic effects of oxycodone and have initiated Phase I Clinical Trials.

Dr. Pravetoni will direct a new Center for Medication Development for Substance Use Disorders which will be located in the Research and Training (R&T) Building at Harborview Medical Center. The Center will develop and seek to translate innovative strategies for the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, with a particular focus on opioids that account for a large proportion of fatal drug overdoses in King County. This new research program will seek to augment and partner with the efforts of scientists, clinicians, advocates, clients, civic leaders and other shareholders to combat addiction and to serve the health needs of the community.