- psychopharmacology
- neuroscience
- drugs & behaviour
Education summary
- PhD, Boston
- MA, Boston
- BA, Concordia
Research summary
Dr. Di Pietro conducts research on the unique ethical and social challenges faced by stakeholders who are affected by substance use disorders and neurological conditions. Her work has led to high impact publications, press coverage in the media, and a book with Elsevier Inc. where reviewers have described her as “a rising force in the field of neuroethics and developmental neuroscience”.
Her current research interests focus on drugs and behavior including the social/ethical challenges related to off-label prescribing practices for children and youth, harm reduction initiatives, and stigma related to drug use.
Publications and other research outputs
- Bigras, J., Sanaei Seisan, S., Di Pietro, N. (2021). A qualitative analysis of the impact of the opioid crisis on non-emergency frontline social service workers. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 21(3), 273-288.
- Aspler, J., Zizzo, N., Di Pietro, N., Racine, E. (2019). Stigmatization, exaggeration, and contradiction: An analysis of scientific and clinical content in Canadian print media discourse about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Canadian Journal of Bioethics/Revue canadienne de bioéthique, 2(2), 23-35.
- Di Pietro, N., De Vries, J., Paolozza, A., Reid, D., Reynolds, J.N., Salmon, A., Wilson, M., Stein, D.J., Illes, J. (2016). Ethical challenges in contemporary FASD research and practice: A global health perspective. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 25(4), 726–732.
- Di Pietro NC, Illes J (Eds). (2015). Science and Ethics of Antipsychotic Use in Children. Waltham MA, Academic Press.
- Ipsiroglu O, Elbe D, Witmans M, Berger M, Garden J, Loock C, Salmon A, Stockler S, Di Pietro N, Carleton B. (2015). Challenging/disruptive sleep/wake behaviours in adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Iatrogenic effects of prescription medications. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 47, 128.
- Bell E, Di Pietro NC, Andrew G, Chudley A, Racine E. (2015). It’s a shame! Stigma against fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Examining the ethical implications for public health practices and policies. Public Health Ethics, 9(1), 65-77.
- Di Pietro NC, Illes J. (2014). Disparities in Canadian indigenous health research on neurodevelopmental disorders. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 35(1): 74-81.
- Di Pietro NC, Mizgalewicz A, Johnson TW, Illes J. (2013). Disclosing incidental findings in brain research: the rights of minors in decision-making. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 38(5): 1009-13.
- Di Pietro NC, Whiteley L, Mizgalewicz A, Illes J. (2012). Treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders: evidence, advocacy, and the Internet. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 43(1): 122-33.
- Di Pietro NC, Seamans JK. (2010). Interactive dopamine and serotonin modulation of prefrontal cortex neurons in vitro. Biological Psychiatry, 69 (12): 1204–1211.
- Di Pietro NC, Mashhoon Y, Heaney CF, Yager LM, Kantak KM. (2008). The role of dopamine D1 receptors in the dorsal agranular insular area of the prefrontal cortex in mediating cocaine self-administration in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 200 (1): 81-91.
- Di Pietro NC, Seamans JK. (2007). Dopamine and serotonin interactions in the prefrontal cortex: insights on antipsychotic drugs and their mechanism of action. Pharmacopsychiatry; 40: 1-7. Review.
- Di Pietro NC, Black YD, Kantak KM. (2006). Context-dependent prefrontal cortex regulation of cocaine self-administration and reinstatement behaviors in rats. European Journal of Neuroscience, 24(11), 3285-3298.
- Di Pietro NC, Black YD, Green-Jordan K, Eichenbaum HB, Kantak KM. (2004). Complimentary tasks to measure working memory in distinct prefrontal cortex subregions in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 118(5), 1042-1051.
Courses taught
Funded projects
- Douglas College Research and Scholarly Activity Project Grant, The Mental Health Impact of the Opioid Crisis on Frontline Work, 2018, $3000
- CIHR Knowledge and Research Synthesis (KRS) Grant, Optimizing Medications Usage for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disor, 2018, $12000
- NeuroDevNet Inc, FASD Biomarker Screening in Low-Resource Settings, 2015, $15000
Awards
- Outstanding Contribution to Student Engagement by a Faculty or Staff Member Award, Douglas College, April 2018
- Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies Exploratory Workshop Award, May 2013
- CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, IHDCYH Talks Video Competition, March 2015
Scholarly activities and leadership
- McGraw Hill Publisher, Editor, 2024
- Faculty Education Council, Chair, 2021-2022
- Faculty Education Council, Member, 2020-2023
- Neuropsychopharmacology, Journal Reviewer, Ongoing
Conference and event organization
- Workshop organizer: Ethics of FASD screening and diagnosis in low-resources settings. NeuroDevNet Inc, Vancouver, BC, May 2015.
- 2. Symposium organizer: Ethics and knowledge translation opportunities for developmental disabilities. American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, San Diego, CA, October 2014.