Psychiatry Grand Rounds: "Endocannabinoids, the Amygdala, and Anxiety"

Dr. Matthew Hill is an associate professor at Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary. The primary focus of the research in his laboratory is to understand the role of the endocannabinoid system in the effects of stress and glucocorticoids. Within this focus, his research is particularly interested in determining the role of the endocannabinoid system in the effects of stress on a) neuroendocrine function; b) emotional behavior; c) energy balance and metabolism; d) neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. This is achieved through a systems level approach incorporating a range of neuroscientific techniques ranging from cellular/biochemical to behavioral. Dr. Hill earned his BSc, MSc and PhD from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. His doctoral research focused on how the endocannabinoid system regulates the acute and chronic stress response. He continued in this field for his post-doctoral training at The Rockefeller University in New York City before joining the University of Calgary as an Assistant Professor in 2012. Dr. Hill receives funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI).