Biography

Karina Villalba, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, with a joint appointment in UCF’s Violence Against Women Faculty Cluster Initiative. Her research program focuses on cannabis and cannabinoid science across clinical and population-health settings.

Dr. Villalba is the director of the Cannabinoid Science Lab. Her research examines CBD and minor cannabinoids as candidate therapeutics in randomized clinical trials for AUD, CUD, PTSD, and co-occurring conditions, with emphasis on alcohol and cannabis use outcomes, craving, stress-cue reactivity, anxiety-related symptoms, cognitive function, safety, and treatment engagement. Her work also extends to oncology populations, where cannabinoid trials assess cancer- and treatment-related symptom burden, tolerability, adverse effects, and adherence, in a field where efficacy signals remain mixed and higher-quality trials are still needed.

Dr. Villalba holds two FDA Investigational New Drug applications (IND 180150/IND180642) and is Principal Investigator of the WAVE Study, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of water-soluble CBD for the reduction of risky alcohol use in adults who do not meet criteria for alcohol use disorders.

In addition, Dr. Villalba conducts epidemiologic and behavioral studies of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use and emerging cannabis products, including CBD- and THC-infused beverages, with a focus on the beliefs, motives, social influences, use patterns, safety concerns, and behavioral consequences that shape real-world use, particularly among young adults. Her work aims to generate evidence that informs clinical care, substance-use interventions, consumer education, and public-health policy.