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Patricia Pelufo Silveira, MD, PhD

Patricia Pelufo Silveira

Associate Professor
Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Phone icon +1 514-761-6131 ext 2776
Email icon: patricia.silveira [at] mcgill.ca
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  • Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, ɬÀï·¬
  • Principal Investigator, the Douglas Research Centre
  • Member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada
  • Co-Scientific Lead, Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics & Mental Health

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PatriciaÌýPelufoÌýSilveira, MD, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry at ɬÀï·¬. Her research focuses on understanding how early-life stress becomes biologically embedded to influence mental and physical health across the lifespan.ÌýDr. Silveira Lab integratesÌýexperimental neuroscience, functional genomics, epidemiology, and developmental science,ÌýinvestigatingÌýthe biological mechanisms through which adverse experiences shape vulnerability and resilience.

A major focus of her work is the interaction between metabolic and brain systems during development. Her studies have identified insulin signaling as an important regulator of neurodevelopmental plasticity and have advanced understanding of how early-life adversity influences reward-related and behavioral outcomes through brain-metabolic pathways. This work has contributed to identifying biological mechanisms that link early environmental exposures to long-term mental and physical health.

Dr. Silveira developed expression-based polygenic scores (ePRS), aÌýneurogenomicframework that integrates genetic variation with biologically defined gene networks. The methodology is now used internationally to investigate gene–environment interactions and individual differences in susceptibility and resilience following early-life adversity.ÌýIn parallel, she leads the Health's Early Roots and Origins (HERO) initiative, a large-scale effort toÌýdevelop biologically informed measures of stress activation and resilience in young children. Through collaborations with healthcare systems, community organizations, and policymakers in Canada and the United States, HERO aims to improve the early identification of children at risk and support evidence-informed approaches to prevention and intervention.

Dr. Silveira is also a member of the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, an interdisciplinary group of scientists dedicated to translating developmental research for policymakers and practitioners. Her work has informed international research, policy, and knowledge mobilization initiatives focused on child development and health.

SinceÌý2016, she has been an active member and one of the pioneering Principal Investigator at theÌýLudmerÌýCenter. One of the former Scientific Co-Director of the Centre, she is now the Co-Scientific Lead of the Functional Genomics and Epigenetics research theme since 2026.

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  • VisitÌýÌýpage for aÌýlist of publications.
  • VisitÌýÌýfor ongoing research;
  • Visit for a list of functional genomic resources.

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