Endocannabinoids and Lipid Mediators in Brain Functions

Miriam Melis is an Associate Professor at the University of Cagliari, Italy. She holds a PharmD in Pharmacy (University of Palermo, 1993) as well as a PhD in Neuroscience University of Cagliari, 2011). During her career Miriam Melis worked as a Research Fellow for two years at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, San Francisco, CA, US and as a Visiting Scientist at Lund Universitet Wallenberg Neuroscience Center in 2011. Her current research is focused on understanding neurobiological underpinnings (e.g., adaptations of both mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathway and endocannabinoid system) of resilience and susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., substance use disorder, antisocial behavior, anxiety, depression). Her group discovered that dopamine neurons can synthesize and release lipid signaling molecules (i.e. endocannabinoids and their cognate molecules) under both physiological and pathological conditions. She has published 34 research papers as wellas 2 book chapters on this topic.

• - The Endocannabinoid System in Leptin-Driven Changes of Orexinergic Signalling Under Physiological and Pathological Conditions.- How CB1 Receptor Activity and Distribution Contribute to Make the Male and Female Brain Different Towards Cannabinoid-Induced Effects.- Endocannabinoids, Stress, and Negative Affect.- Cell-Autonomous Endocannabinoid Production Shapes Polarized and Dynamic Distribution and Signaling Patterns of Cannabinoid CB1 Receptors in Neurons.- Endocannabinoid-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in Striatum.- Lipid Mediators in the Regulation of Emotions, Memory and Cognitive Functions.- The Endocannabinoid System in Prefrontal Synaptopathies.- Cannabinoids and Mitochondria.- Endocannabinoids and Lipid Mediators in Brain Function.- Endocannabinoid Signaling in Reward and Addiction:  From Homeostasis to Pathology.- Roles of N-Acylethanolamines in Brain Functions and Neuropsychiatric Diseases.- Mast Cells and Glia as Targets for the Anandamide Congener Palmitoylethanolamide, and Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Lipid-Signaling Molecule.