Victor Pablo Acero

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT VICTOR PABLO ACERO

I am 5th Year Bioengineering PhD Candidate at the University of the Pennsylvania. Scholarship: My thesis research is the towards the development and characterization of 3D tissue engineered cortical-hippocampal networks for pharmacological investigations. These sophisticated in-vitro platforms are crucial for increasing translational potential of pre-clinical research. Beyond my thesis research, I am studying the potential of psychedelic compounds for treating chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). I am specifically interested in conducting pre-clinical work with rodent models to determine the effects of psychedelics on components of secondary injury. Moreover, I am in the process of implementing a survey study assessing the motivations and trends in self-medication with psychedelics amongst TBI survivors. I am also interested in the intersection of neuroscience with applied neuroethics, public health, and policy. I have co-authored an award winning policy memo on drug testing technology decriminalization and lobbied it at the PA State Legislature. Currently, I am working on an article assessing the pitfalls of psychedelics legalization. Leadership: I am a Co-Founder and Co-Director for the Intercollegiate Psychedelics Network, a student-led non-profit developing, empowering, and connecting the next generation of leaders in the psychedelic ecosystem. In this position I have developed advisory boards, strategic partnerships, supported various educational initiatives, and onboarded leadership cohorts. Moreover, I am the Co-Founder and Chair of the Graduate Advisory Board of the Penn Psychedelics Collaborative, a multi-school faculty and researcher working group at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, I develop strategic partnerships, develop and coordinate the Faculty Advisory Board, and provide strategic plans for the growth of the PPC. In my role at the PPC, I am also Co-Lead Organizer for the PhilaDelic Conference. The PhilaDelic Conference is a historic moment for psychedelic scholarship at UPenn, as it is the public launch for the Penn Psychedelic Collaborative. This conference cultivates a setting of 36+ experts across 12 topics to facilitate meaningful discussion at the frontiers of psychedelic studies. Our varied conference programming includes panels, lectures, mixers, workshops, and opportunities to engage with the broader psychedelic community. I am eager to continue a career in the psychedelic field where I can utilize my scientific training, organizational leadership skills, and policy experience.