Kevin Xu

Kevin Xu

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Additional Titles & Roles


  • Director, PGY2 Substance Use Disorders Rotation

Education & Training


  • NIDA Transdiciplinary Training in Addictions Research (TranSTAR) T32 Program: Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 2023
  • Adult Psychiatry Residency: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 2022
  • MD/MPH: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 2018
  • BA: Biology, Anthropology: Columbia University, New York, NY, 2014

Major Awards


  • Parker Young Investigator Award, WUSM, 2024
  • ASAM Ruth Fox Scholarship, 2023
  • WUSM Dept. of Psychiatry Excellence in Teaching Award, 2023
  • Eli Robins Award for excellence in research, teaching and clinical psychiatry, WUSM, 2022
  • CPDD Travel Award for Early Career Investigators; ASAM NIDA Young Investigator Award; ASCP New Investigator Award, AMERSA Travel Award, 2022
  • APA Psychiatric Research Fellowship; APA Research Colloquium for Junior Psychiatrist Investigators, 2022
  • AAAP John Renner Award, 2021
  • Resident of the Year, WUSM Distinguished Service Teaching Award, 2019

Areas of Clinical Interest


Substance use disorders

Research Interests


1) Examining the comparative effectiveness of medication to treat addiction in birthing people
2) Using real-world data to examine inequities in psychiatric diagnosis
3) Understanding the risks/benefits associated with prescribing controlled substances in people with addiction
4) Evaluating the rational deprescribing and prescribing of psychotropic medications

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Key Publications


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    Funded Research Projects


    8/1/2024-7/31/2028, K08 DA061258 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (PI)
    7/1/2023-7/31/2024, K12 DA041449 Career Development Award Program in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders (K12 scholar)
    7/1/2024-6/30/2025, WU Here and Now Award (Co-I)
    6/1/2024-5/30/2025, Center for Perioperative Mental Health R03 Pilot and Feasibility Grant (PI)
    4/17/2023-4/17/2024, WU ICTS Collaborative Administrative Data Research Award (Co-PI)
    7/1/2022-6/30/2024, American Psychiatric Association (APA) Psychiatric Research Award (PI)