Hilary Marusak

hmarusak@med.wayne.edu

Hilary Marusak

Position Title

Associate Professor
Director, Division of Cannabinoids in Neurodevelopment (CANDID)
Director, Trauma History Investigation of Neurodevelopment in Kids (THINK) Lab

Office Address

Tolan Park Medical Building
3901 Chrysler Drive
Suite 2B
Detroit, 48201

Office Phone

313-577-1278

Biography

Dr. Hilary Marusak is a developmental neuroscientist and tenured Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine. She directs the Division of Cannabinoids in Neurodevelopment (CANDID; www.candid.med.wayne.edu), which advances understanding of cannabis, cannabinoids, and the endocannabinoid system through rigorous research on their effects on brain development and mental health. Dr. Marusak also leads the Trauma History Investigation of Neurodevelopment in Kids (THINK) lab (www.wsuthinklab.com). The THINK lab employs neuroimaging, behavioral, and physiological approaches to study neurodevelopmental mechanisms underlying stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in children and adolescents.

Dr. Marusak is the principal investigator or co-principal investigator of several studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, One Mind, and the State of Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency, focusing on topics such as the endocannabinoid system and mental health, cannabis use and developmental exposure, and interventions that target the endocannabinoid system, such as exercise. She is an Associate Member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Social Media Editor for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, Consultant for the University of California, Irvine’s Center for the Study of Cannabis, Steering Committee Member for the WSU Translational Neuroscience PhD Program, and Chair of the Communications Task Force for the Society of Biological Psychiatry. Additionally, she cofounded and advises the student-led organization Science Policy Network-Detroit and hosts the BrainSTEM podcast, which provides evidence-based brain science to the public.

Courses
PYC7140 - Fundamentals of Neuroimaging
BIO4050 - Science Advocacy and Public Engagement
PYC7010/IBS7050 - Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology

Are you a student, staff, or faculty at Wayne State and interested in science communication and advocacy? Visit www.scipoldetroit.org

Are you interested in learning about neuroscience and combating stigma about brain disorders? Listen to our BrainSTEM podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2BRbrtuu5KouWZ6nCb9kDB

Research

Methods:

Neuroimaging
Psychophysiology
Behavioral and Pharmacological Interventions (e.g., exercise, meditation)
Genetics
Behavior

Clinical/Research Interests

Pediatric anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Childhood adversity/trauma, including medical-related adversity (e.g., pediatric cancer)
Developmental neuroscience
Affective neuroscience
Cannabis/Cannabinoids
Neuroimaging
The Endocannabinoid System