From Seed to Synapse: Modeling the Long-Term
Impacts of Developmental Cannabis Exposure

March 14, 2024, 1 PM MST

Dr. Ryan McLaughlin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience at Washington State University (WSU). The overarching goal of Dr. McLaughlin’s research program is to determine how endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids affect the brain and behavior. His research has shown that the endocannabinoid system is a vital component of the neuroendocrine and behavioral response to stress, and that pharmacological targeting of this system can be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating stress-related dysfunction. Dr. McLaughlin is a recipient of the Healthy Minds Canada Prize in Children’s Mental Health and his research team is currently funded by federal grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). He has over 45 peer-reviewed publications in nationally recognized scientific journals, including Biological Psychiatry, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Neuroscience, Neuropsychopharmacology, and Pain, and has authored several book chapters detailing the role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of stress and emotional behavior. His research has been covered in various news media outlets, including Forbes, Scientific American, The Scientist, The Seattle Times, and The Washington Post.