Skip to main content

F Joseph McClernon

Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences
3527, Durham, NC 27710
2400 Pratt St., 6th Floor, Durham, NC 27705

Overview


Joseph McClernon, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and founder/director of the Center for Addiction Science and Technology (CfAST). He is the Associate Director of the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).  During his tenure with CTSI, his leadership has been critical to building a culture of evaluation and continuous improvement, in strengthening the institute’s partnership with North Carolina Central University and other …

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2021 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Member of the Center for Brain Imaging and Analysis · 2009 - Present Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Institutes and Centers
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2013 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2021 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published September 26, 2024
How Using Cannabis and Tobacco for Pain May Make Things Worse
Published December 19, 2023
Duke Co-Hosts National Forum on the Role of Health Professionals in Responding to Misinformation
Published November 6, 2023
Pain Drives Dual Tobacco and Cannabis Use, Study Shows

View All News

Recent Publications


Bidirectional relationships between pain and patterns of cannabis and tobacco use in a US nationally representative sample.

Journal Article Pain · March 1, 2025 One-fifth of US adults experience chronic pain, which is associated with increased tobacco and cannabis use. Although bidirectional relationships between tobacco and pain have been demonstrated, pathways between pain, cannabis use, and co-use of cannabis a ... Full text Link to item Cite

Sex differences in dorsal striatal volume and interest in quitting smoking.

Journal Article Drug Alcohol Depend · February 1, 2025 AIMS: Over the recent decades, smoking among women has become an increasingly pressing public health challenge. Mounting evidence suggests that, compared to men, women's smoking is more strongly influenced by habitual responses to sensorimotor cues. To und ... Full text Link to item Cite

Ecological momentary assessment of cigarette smoking behavior and pain intensity among individuals with chronic back pain who smoke.

Journal Article J Pain · January 5, 2025 Chronic pain affects ∼20% of the adult population and is associated with smoking. Smoking and pain worsen each other in the long term, but short-term temporal associations between smoking and pain throughout the day are unclear. Understanding these relatio ... Full text Link to item Cite
View All Publications

Recent Grants


NCCU Duke - Substance Use Research & Education (ND-SURE)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina Central University · 2024 - 2029

Neurobehavioral mechanisms linking childhood adversity to increased risk for smoking

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2022 - 2027

View All Grants

Education, Training & Certifications


Southern Illinois University · 2001 Ph.D.