CHAOS Lab believes that a better understanding of factors that influence health and risk behavior will allow better tailoring of behavioral interventions to increase health behavior, decrease risk behavior, and ultimately increase quality of life. Operating out of the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Addiction Science, Prevention, and Treatment, “Cannabis, Health, and Addiction Sciences” (CHA
OS) Lab is directed by Dr. Kent Hutchison, Professor of Psychiatry at CU Anschutz Medical Campus and Director of the nascent Rocky Mountain Cannabis Research Center (RM-CRC). We believe that a better understanding of factors that influence health and risk behavior will allow better tailoring of behavioral interventions to increase health behavior, decrease risk behavior, and ultimately decrease morbidity and mortality and increase quality of life. Using innovative and transdisciplinary research designs, we strive to understand the psychological, neurocognitive, physiological, genetic, and epigenetic factors that underlie health and risk behavior. We believe, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying behaviors in both risk and health will lead to new treatments that improve health across the lifespan. Most recently, we have focused our efforts on understanding how cannabinoids like CBD and THC influence the endocannabinoids system which turn influences the immune system and the brain. There are also important implications of this research for our aging population. At the CHAOS Lab we have a passion for science, innovative research design, and the translation of research into public health interventions and policy. Our team-based approach is scientifically rigorous and mentorship driven, and we provide opportunities for growth to individuals at all stages of their professional development. We strive for representation in terms of perspective, age, ethnicity, disability status, and gender. We leverage collaborations across disciplines to build a stronger and healthier community for all.
