July 2022
Professor Cecilia Hillard is the Director of the Neuroscience Research Center and Associate Dean for Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin. As a highly active researcher, Dr. Hillard’s laboratory primarily focuses on the pharmacology and biochemistry of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids. Her research focuses on cannabinoids, the receptors with which they interact, and the role of endocannabinoids in brain function, including biochemical mechanisms involved in the synthesis, release, and degradation of the endocannabinoids, the role of endocannabinoid signaling in the regulation of mood and responses to stress, and the roles of cannabinoids in the regulation of the immune response. Dr. Hillard is frequently named an Outstanding Medical Student Teacher, takes an active role in training and mentorship, and is the recipient of the Medical College of Wisconsin’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. In addition, Dr. Hillard was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society.