Tayler Holborn is a Research Assistant in the Department of Addictions at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London.

He is currently working on an NIHR-funded project investigating the use of Virtual Reality (VR)-enhanced Cue Exposure Therapy (CET), integrated with wearable technology, to improve treatment outcomes for people with cocaine dependence.

From 2022-2026 he completed his PhD in Addictions at King's College London, supported by the Black Heart Foundation Scholarship. His doctoral research focused on self-medication with Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), exploring the intersection between substance use and conditions such as anxiety, depression and ADHD. His work uses mixed-methods approaches to better understand emerging drug trends. During his PhD, he published several peer-reviewed papers on NPS use.

Prior to his PhD, Tayler completed an MRes in Biomedical Sciences (Neuroscience) at the University of Liverpool, where he investigated the neurobiology of alcohol exposure using the model organism C. elegans. He also holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Liverpool, where his undergraduate dissertation explored the effects of Cannabis sativa on food perception and eating motivations.

Research Interests

• Digital interventions for Addictions
• Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
• International drug markets
• Mental health and drug use

Expertise and Public Engagement

Tayler has also been actively involved in public engagement and harm reduction initiatives through volunteering with The Loop and writing for the drug advocacy platform Volteface.