Patricia Pelufo Silveira, MD, PhD

• Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University
• 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

Patricia Pelufo Silveira, MD, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University. Her research focuses on understanding how early-life stress becomes biologically embedded to influence mental and physical health across the lifespan. Dr. Silveira Lab integrates experimental neuroscience, functional genomics, epidemiology, and developmental science, investigating the 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), a neurogenomicframework 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. In parallel, she leads the Health's Early Roots and Origins (HERO) initiative, a large-scale effort to develop 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.

Since 2016, she has been an active member and one of the pioneering Principal Investigator at the Ludmer Center. 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.

• Visit Google Scholar page for a list of publications.
• Visit Research Gate for ongoing research;
• Visit Github for a list of functional genomic resources.