Women Pioneers in Cannabinoid Science

26 Mar Women Pioneers in Cannabinoid Science

Mary Abood, PhD, is a Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Temple University in Philadelphia. Her lab cloned the CB1 and CB2 receptors and elucidated the molecular mechanisms of cannabinoid receptor signaling. Abood and her team have published numerous papers on the role of cannabinoids in exitotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS. More recently, Abood has focused on identifying novel cannabinoid receptor subtypes. This research has led to the discovery of a series of “orphan receptors” – GPR18, GPR35, GPR55, etc. – that regulate inflammation, metabolism, and cellular homeostasis. CBD, THC, and endogenous cannabinoids bind to these orphan receptors.