Dr. Vendula Belackova

Biography

Vendula Belackova is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Arts, Design & Architecture Social Policy Research Centre. She is recognized as an illicit drug researcher with a background in economic policy (PhD) and has contributed to multi-disciplinary understandings of drugs and drug policy. Her applied research findings address current policy issues, including medicinal and recreational cannabis, drug consumption rooms, injectable opioid treatment, and new psychoactive substances. Dr. Belackova has conducted research in several European countries, the U.S. and Australia. From 2016 to 2019, she worked as a Senior Project Officer at the Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre. She previously coordinated research teams and co-investigated research and developmental projects funded by the European Commission and equivalent Czech agencies while at Charles University in Prague. Her accolades include receiving a Fulbright Scholarship in 2009, an Endeavour Fellowship in 2014, and a Scientific Award from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in 2018. She participated in a comparative study of cannabis policies and markets across various countries, including the Czech Republic, Australia (New South Wales), the U.S. (Florida), and Spain, focusing on data analysis and interviewing cannabis users and market participants.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards