
Cecilia J. Hillard, PhD
Associate Dean for Research; Professor; Director, Neuroscience Research Center
Locations
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
Contact Information
General Interests
Education
BS, Chemistry, University of Virginia, 1977
Biography
Dr. Hillard was named Associate Dean for Research in November 2015 after serving eight months as co-Interim Senior Associate Dean for Research. She has served as director of the Neuroscience Research Center since its inception in 2010. She was also Inaugural Director of the Neuroscience Graduate Training Program from 1996-2010. As a highly active researcher, Dr. Hillard’s laboratory is primarily focused on the pharmacology and biochemistry of the cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. Her significant bibliography and frequent invitations to present attest to her reputation as a leader in her field. Dr. Hillard is an MCW graduate and a true advocate for the Basic Sciences. Frequently named an Outstanding Medical Student Teacher, Dr. Hillard takes an active role in training and mentorship, receiving MCW’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, in 2011.
Dr. Hillard was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society. Dr. Hillard is a member of both the Society of Teaching Scholars and the Society for Research Excellence at MCW.
Research Experience
- Anxiety
- Brain
- Cannabidiol
- Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
- Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
- Cannabinoids
- Carrier Proteins
- Cells, Cultured
- Cocaine
- Corticosterone
- Depression
- Endocannabinoids
Research Interests
Marijuana has been used by humans for more than 2,500 years as a medicinal agent and social drug. Cannabinoids are the chemicals in marijuana that are responsible for its effects on the body. A long-standing interest of our laboratory is the study of the mechanisms by which the cannabinoids affect the function of the brain. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid in marijuana that is responsible for its mood- and sensation-altering effects. THC targets two receptors: the CB1 receptor present on neurons and the CB2 receptor that is present primarily on immune cells. Although THC targets these receptors when a person is exposed to the drug from the outside, we know that at least two “endogenous” (or, from the self) molecules also target these receptors. These two molecules are named the endocannabinoids. Our research focuses on the cannabinoids, the receptors with which they interact and the role of the endocannabinoids in brain function.
We have three major research projects:
Studies of the biochemical mechanisms involved in the synthesis, release and degradation of the endocannabinoids
At least two lipid molecules are thought to act as endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Both can be synthesized by neurons but our knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate their synthesis is lacking in detail. One goal of our work is to develop inhibitors of these pathways to help us understand the physiological roles of endocannabinoids. We are also studying the processes by which the endocannabinoids are inactivated. We know that they are catabolized by enzymes and that they are substrates for transporters that act in plasma membranes. One of our goals is to biochemically understand these processes and to develop inhibitors.
Studies of the role of endocannabinoid signaling in the regulation of mood and responses to stress
Several laboratories, including ours, have demonstrated that one very important function of the endocannabinoids is to regulate the response of the brain to stress. Animals and humans need to cope with physical and psychological stresses in order to survive, but stress responses have a cost. For example, we know that long term stress exposure results in depression and post traumatic stress disorder in humans. The endogenous cannabinoid system is a stress buffer, it turns down the hormonal and behavioral responses to stress. In addition, the endocannabinoid system is itself turned on or, in some cases, turned off by stress. Our goal in these studies is to examine the mechanistic relationships between stress and the endocannabinoids. While most of our studies are carried out using rodent models, we are also exploring these processes in human subjects exposed to periods of psychological stress through collaborations with other investigators.
Roles of cannabinoids in regulation of the immune response
Signaling through the CB2 receptor has been shown to reduce activation of the immune system. Although immune cell activation is vital to fight infections, excess or inappropriate immune activation contributes to many important and devastating diseases, including multiple sclerosis and graft-versus-host disease, which can occur after bone marrow transplants to treat cancer. Our laboratory is exploring the roles of CB2 receptors and the phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol, in neuroinflammation and graft-versus-host disease models.
Publications
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Sex, stress, and prefrontal cortex: influence of biological sex on stress-promoted cocaine seeking.
(Doncheck EM, Liddiard GT, Konrath CD, Liu X, Yu L, Urbanik LA, Herbst MR, DeBaker MC, Raddatz N, Van Newenhizen EC, Mathy J, Gilmartin MR, Liu QS, Hillard CJ, Mantsch JR.) Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020 11;45(12):1974-1985 PMID: 32303052 PMCID: PMC7547655 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85084141235 04/18/2020
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(Vickstrom CR, Liu X, Liu S, Hu MM, Mu L, Hu Y, Yu H, Love SL, Hillard CJ, Liu QS.) Mol Psychiatry. 2020 Oct 22 PMID: 33093652 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85093837658 10/24/2020
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(Sarott RC, Westphal MV, Pfaff P, Korn C, Sykes DA, Gazzi T, Brennecke B, Atz K, Weise M, Mostinski Y, Hompluem P, Koers E, Miljuš T, Roth NJ, Asmelash H, Vong MC, Piovesan J, Guba W, Rufer AC, Kusznir EA, Huber S, Raposo C, Zirwes EA, Osterwald A, Pavlovic A, Moes S, Beck J, Benito-Cuesta I, Grande T, Ruiz de Martı N Esteban S, Yeliseev A, Drawnel F, Widmer G, Holzer D, van der Wel T, Mandhair H, Yuan CY, Drobyski WR, Saroz Y, Grimsey N, Honer M, Fingerle J, Gawrisch K, Romero J, Hillard CJ, Varga ZV, van der Stelt M, Pacher P, Gertsch J, McCormick PJ, Ullmer C, Oddi S, Maccarrone M, Veprintsev DB, Nazaré M, Grether U, Carreira EM.) J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Oct 07;142(40):16953-16964 PMID: 32902974 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85092682450 09/10/2020
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(Alteba S, Mizrachi Zer-Aviv T, Tenenhaus A, Ben David G, Adelman J, Hillard CJ, Doron R, Akirav I.) Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2020 10;39:70-86 PMID: 32891517 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85090150762 09/07/2020
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Meet Your Stress Management Professionals: The Endocannabinoids.
(deRoon-Cassini TA, Stollenwerk TM, Beatka M, Hillard CJ.) Trends Mol Med. 2020 10;26(10):953-968 PMID: 32868170 PMCID: PMC7530069 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85089963030 09/02/2020
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Circulating endocannabinoid concentrations in grieving adults.
(Harfmann EJ, McAuliffe TL, Larson ER, Claesges SA, Sauber G, Hillard CJ, Goveas JS.) Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020 10;120:104801 PMID: 32682172 PMCID: PMC7348598 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85087803094 07/19/2020
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(Rosen S, Diaz R, Garacci Z, Kumar VCS, Thyarala SR, Hillard CJ, Venkatesan T.) Dig Dis Sci. 2020 May 29 PMID: 32472256 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85085560520 05/31/2020
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(Ke X, Fu Q, Sterrett J, Hillard CJ, Lane RH, Majnik A.) Physiol Rep. 2020 04;8(8):e14407 PMID: 32333646 PMCID: PMC7183239 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85084031438 04/26/2020
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(Hanlon EC, Leproult R, Stuhr KL, Doncheck EM, Hillard CJ, Van Cauter E.) J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 03 01;105(3) PMID: 31970413 PMCID: PMC7015463 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85079347809 01/24/2020
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(Yasmin F, Colangeli R, Morena M, Filipski S, van der Stelt M, Pittman QJ, Hillard CJ, Teskey GC, McEwen BS, Hill MN, Chattarji S.) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 01 07;117(1):650-655 PMID: 31843894 PMCID: PMC6955336 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85077654645 12/18/2019
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Circulating endocannabinoid concentrations in grieving adults
(Harfmann EJ, McAuliffe TL, Larson ER, Claesges SA, Sauber G, Hillard CJ, Goveas JS.) Psychoneuroendocrinology. October 2020;120 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85087803094 10/01/2020
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(Alteba S, Mizrachi Zer-Aviv T, Tenenhaus A, Ben David G, Adelman J, Hillard CJ, Doron R, Akirav I.) European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2020 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85090150762 01/01/2020