Phd in PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY

email: maria.morena@uniroma1.it
phone:

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: Maria Morena, PhD, PharmD
Nationality: Italian

PRESENT POSITIONS AND ADDRESSES
Tenure-track assistant professor (Ricercatore a tempo determinato tipologia B, RTDB), Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology V. Erspamer , Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome (RM), Italy. e-mail: maria.morena@uniroma1.it
Researcher/Ricercatore in Convenzione, Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, European Center for Brain Research (CERC), Santa Lucia Foundation, IRCCS, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143 Rome, Italy. E-mail: m.morena@hsantalucia.it

EDUCATION
Oct 28 2010 Bachelor + Master Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry single-cycle degree; final grade: 110/110 summa cum laude. Sapienza Univ. of Rome, Italy
Dec 15 2011 Board-Certified Pharmacist Sapienza Univ. of Rome, Italy
Feb 05 2014 PhD in Toxicology; final grade: Excellent. Sapienza Univ. of Rome, Italy
May 2019 May 2028 Italian scientific habilitation to associate professorship in Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale - Seconda Fascia Settore Concorsuale 05/G1 Farmacologia, Farmacologia Clinica e Farmacognosia)
Sept 2020 Exam committee member - Expert in the field of General and Molecular Pharmacology (Cultore della materia membro commissione di esame: Farmacologia Generale e Molecolare )
Sept 2020 Exam committee member - Expert in the field of Special Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy (Cultore della materia membro commissione di esame: Farmacologia Speciale e Farmacoterapia )
Oct 2020 Exam committee member - Expert in the field of Toxicology (Cultore della materia membro commissione di esame: Tossicologia )
Nov 2020 Exam committee member - Expert in the field of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy (Cultore della materia membro commissione di esame: Farmacologia e Farmacognosia )

Training courses:
Feb 2011 Training course on Micromedex database/La banca dati Micromedex Umberto I Policlinico di Roma, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Jul 2011 Training course on Laboratory animal research Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
May 2013 Training course on Rat husbandry, handling and procedures University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
May 2014 Training course on Mouse husbandry, handling and procedures University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Dec 2014 Training course on Basic surgery for research animals, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Apr 2021 Training course on COVID-19 risks/Formazione Rischio COVID-19 , UnitelmaSapienza, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Jan 2022 Training course on Preclinical sperimentation and animal welfare (Sperimentazione Preclinica e Benessere Animale) , Centro Ricerca e Servizi Sperimentazione Preclinica e Benessere Animale (SPBA), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Mar 2022 -present Tenure-track assistant professor (Ricercatore a tempo determinato tipologia B, RTDB), Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology V. Erspamer , Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
Jan 2021 present Researcher/Ricercatore in Convenzione, Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, European Center for Brain Research (CERC), Fondazione Santa Lucia, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Dec 2021 Mar 2022 Post-doctoral Associate/Assegnista di Ricerca, SSD BIO/14, SC 05/G1, Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology V. Erspamer , Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome (laboratory of Prof. Patrizia Campolongo)
Dec 2020 Nov 2021 Seal of SAPIExcellence fellow, SSD BIO/14, SC 05/G1, Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology V. Erspamer , Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome (laboratory of Prof. Patrizia Campolongo)
Apr 2019 Nov 2020 Post-doctoral Associate/Senior fellow, Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Psychiatry, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (laboratory of Prof. Matthew N. Hill)
Apr 2014 Mar 2019 Post-doctoral fellow, Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Psychiatry, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (laboratory of Prof. Matthew N. Hill)
Mar 2014 Apr 2014 Research Internship, Dept. of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy (laboratory of Dr. Viviana Trezza)
Feb 2014 Mar 2014 Research Internship, Dept. Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza
Apr 2013 Oct 2013 Research Internship, Dept. of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (laboratory of Prof. Matthew N. Hill)
Oct 2012 Nov 2012 Research Internship, Dept. of Anaesthesiology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany (laboratory of Prof. Gustav Schelling)
Nov 2010 - Feb 2014 PhD student, Dept. Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy (laboratory of Dr. Patrizia Campolongo)
Feb 2009 Oct 2010 Master student, Dept. Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy (laboratory of Prof. Vincenzo Cuomo, Dr. Patrizia Campolongo)

LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Jan 2020 - Nov 2020 Maternity leave

TEACHING AND OTHER ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
2022 Lecture on Developmental toxicology: experimental models PhD school in Pharmacology and Toxicology (Sapienza University of Rome); Lecturer
2022 Final PhD examination committee. PhD school in Pharmacology and Toxicology (Sapienza University of Rome); Alternate member
2022-present Member of the PhD school committee in Pharmacology and Toxicology (School of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome).
2021-2022 Course of Pharmacovigilance and Toxicology of the Bachelor Course in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome; Teacher & President of examining committee of the course (2021-2022)
2021 - present Course of Pain Management: pharmacological aspects of the Graduate Specialization School in Hospital Pharmacy, Sapienza University of Rome; Teacher & President of the examining committee (2021)
2021 present Course of Toxicology of the Graduate Specialization School in Chemical Risk Assessment and Management, Sapienza University of Rome; Teacher & President of the examining committee (2021 & 2022)
2021 Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy of the Master Course in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Sapienza University of Rome. Lecturer (Mar 2021)
2015 Graduate Course Neuro II: Stress and Reward , PhD school in Neuroscience, University of Calgary. Lecturer (Mar 24, 2015)
2012-2013 Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Master Course in Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Sapienza University of Rome. Teaching assistant/lecturer (Sep 2012-Feb, 2013)
2011-2012 Toxicology of the Master Course in Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Sapienza University of Rome. Teaching assistant/lecturer (Sep 2011-Feb 2012)

ACADEMIC SUPERVISING AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES
Co-Tutor for 2 PhD students in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sapienza University of Rome, Sept 2021- present
MSc Thesis committee member and co-supervisor, thesis in Pharmacology. Title of the thesis: Post-traumatic stress disorder and comorbidities: evaluation of emotional alterations and hormonal stress response in female rats susceptible or resilient to develop trauma-related disorders; student Alessia Milione, Sapienza University of Rome, Dec 2020- present
MSc Thesis committee member and co-supervisor, thesis in Pharmacology. Title of the thesis: Post-traumatic stress disorder and comorbidities: evaluation of emotional alterations in male animal models of susceptibility and resilience to develop trauma-related disorders; student Arianna Pisaneschi, Sapienza University of Rome, Dec 2020- Oct 2021
MSc Thesis committee member and co-supervisor, thesis in Toxicology. Title of the thesis: Effects of the psychostimulants amphetamine and MDPV on memory and ultrasonic vocalizations in adult rats; student Livia D Alfonso, Sapienza University of Rome, Dec 2020- July 2021
MSc Thesis external committee member and co-supervisor, thesis in Pharmacology. Title of the thesis: Endocannabinoid modulation of short-term recognition memory in rats: Influence of stress and circadian rhythm; student Alessia Santori, Sapienza University of Rome, Apr 2017- Oct 2017
BSc Thesis co-supervisor, thesis in Neuroscience. Title of the thesis: Sex-Specific Effects of the Endocannabinoid System on Fear Memory Dynamics; student Andrei Nastase, University of Calgary, Sept 2017-May 2018
Co-evaluator MSDC 528 Independent Studies in Medical Science, Bachelor of Health Science, University of Calgary Student: Sonia Martins, Apr 2018 Sept 2018
Supervisor of 7 undergraduate students during my Postdoc.
Training of 5 Master students during my PhD and 6 Master student during my Postdoctoral positions.

SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL EDITORIAL AND REVIEWER BOARD MEMBER
PLOS ONE (IF: 3.240) Editorial Board Member Academic Editor
Applied Sciences (IF: 2.679) Editorial Board Member
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience - Behavioral Neuroscience Archive (IF: 3.558) Review Editor
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience - Learning and Memory (IF: 3.558) Review Editor
Frontiers in Pharmacology - Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery (IF: 5.810) Review Editor

OTHER SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL REFEREE ACTIVITY (ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
Behavioural Pharmacology (IF: 2.293)
Brain, Behavior and Immunity (IF: 7.217)
Brain Research Bulletin (IF: 4.077)
British Journal of Pharmacology (IF: 8.739)
British Journal of Psychology (IF: 4.267)
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (IF: 5.764)
CNS Neuroscience & therapeutics (IF: 5.243)
Endocrine (IF: 3.633)
European Neuropsychopharmacology (IF: 4.600)
European Journal of Neuroscience (IF: 3.386)
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (IF: 3.157)
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience (IF: 5.639)
Frontiers in Pharmacology - Translational Pharmacology (IF: 5.810)
Journal of Psychopharmacology (IF: 4.153)
Molecular Neurobiology (IF: 5.590)
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (IF:2.877)
Neurobiology of Stress (IF: 5.441)
Neuropharmacology (IF: 5.250)
Neuropsychopharmacology (IF: 7.853)
Neuroscience Letters (IF: 3.046)
Neurotoxicity Research (IF: 3.911)
Neurotoxicology and Teratology (IF: 3.763)
Oncotarget (IF: 3.765)
Physiology and Behavior (IF: 3.244)
PLoS One (IF: 3.240)
Psychoneuroendocrinology (IF: 4.905)
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND GRANT REFEREE ACTIVITY
Canadian Institutes of Health and Research (CIHR) Doctoral Research Awards A National Awards Grant Reviewer
Research and professional activity of research-oriented institutes of the Czech Academy Evaluator for Medical and Health Sciences panel
De Castro National Fellowship for Neuropharmacology Research funded by Associazione Valentina De Castro , Fondazione Roma Sapienza Reviewer panel member

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (EBPS)
European Brain and Behaviour Society (EBBS)
Italian Society of Neuroscience (SINS)
Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF)
International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS)
Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC)
International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology (ISPNE)
Mediterranean Neuroscience Society (MNS)

PRIZES/AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS
1. GRC Trainee Conference Support to attend the Gordon Research Conference on Cannabinoids 2019 awarded by Gordon Research Conference Jul 21-26, 2019 (US$ 200)
2. GRS Trainee Conference Support to attend the Gordon Research Seminar on Cannabinoids 2019 awarded by Gordon Research Seminar Jul 20-21, 2019 (US$ 375)
3. Seal of Excellence, awarded by the European Commission, as the institution managing the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020, for a research project submitted under the Horizon 2020 s Marie Sk odowska-Curie actions, individual fellowship 2018, Mar 19 2019.
4. 2018 Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year Award (second place) awarded by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (University of Calgary)-Jan 2019
5. ICRS Poster Presentation Award 2018 awarded by the International Cannabinoid Research Society - 28th Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Leiden (The Netherlands) Jun 30-Jul 5, 2018 (US$ 100)
6. ICRS Travel Award to support the attendance to the 28th Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Leiden (The Netherlands) Jun 30-July 5, 2018 (US$ 500)
7. Young Research Award 2017 awarded by the Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome-Mar 2018 ( 2000)
8. FENS-IBRO/PERC Travel grant to support the attendance of the 11th FENS Forum of Neuroscience, Berlin 2018 Mar 29 2018 ( 750)
9. HBI Conference Travel Award awarded by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary Nov 8, 2017 (CAN $ 500)
10. Otsuka 2017 Prize for Young Scientist awarded by the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) Oct 27, 2017 ( 5000)
11. GRC Trainee Conference Support to attend the Gordon Research Conference on Cannabinoids 2017 awarded by Gordon Research Conference Aug 20-25, 2017 (US$ 500)
12. GRS Trainee Conference Support to attend the Gordon Research Seminar on Cannabinoids 2017 awarded by Gordon Research Seminar Aug 19-20, 2017 (US$ 260)
13. Mathison Centre Trainee Travel Award to support the attendance to the 6th Conference of the Mediterranean Neuroscience Society awarded by the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada Jul 29, 2017 (CAN$ 1,000)
14. ICRS Travel Award to support the attendance to the 27th Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Montreal (Canada) Jun 22-27, 2017 (US$ 350)
15. MNS2017 Travel Award to support the attendance to the 6th Conference of the Mediterranean Neuroscience Society in Malta Jun 12-15, 2017 ( 500)
16. 2016 Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year Award (second place) awarded by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (University of Calgary)-Jan 2017
17. HBI Trainee Publication Award 2016 awarded by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (University of Calgary)-Jan 2017 (CAN$ 100)
18. 2016 Dr. Hubert van Tol Travel Grant awarded by the Brain Canada Foundation Sep 2016 (CAN$ 5,000)
19. 2016 SFN Trainee Professional Development Award awarded by the Society for Neuroscience Aug 2016 (US$ 1,000)
20. ACNP Travel Award awarded by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Jun 2016
21. ICRS Travel Award to support the attendance to the 26th Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Bukovina (Poland) Jun 27-30, 2016 (US$ 500)
22. 2015 Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year Award awarded by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (University of Calgary)-Jan 2016
23. Young Research Award 2015 awarded by the Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome-Jan 2016 ( 2000)
24. HBI Trainee Publication Award 2015 awarded by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (University of Calgary)-Jan 2016 (CAN$ 100)
25. SIF-Farmindustria-2015 Prize for Young Scientist awarded by the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) Sep 18, 2015 ( 5,000)
26. EBBS Travel Award to attend the EBBS/EBPS meeting 2015 in Verona (Italy) awarded by the European Brain and Behaviour Society (EBBS) May 25, 2015 ( 500)
27. CCIC Trainee Conference Support to attend the Gordon Conference on Cannabinoids 2015 awarded by the Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC) May 11, 2015 (CAN$ 1500)
28. Outstanding Postdoctoral Research Talk Prize, Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain - Feb 19-21, 2015, Fernie (BC), Canada
29. Mathison Centre Travel Award to support the attendance to the Gordon Conference on Cannabinoids 2015 awarded by the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada Dec 15, 2014 (CAN$ 1,000)
30. ICRS Travel Award to support the attendance to the 24th Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Baveno (Italy) Jun 28 - Jul 3, 2014 (US$ 500)
31. Research fellowship awarded by University of Romatre, Rome, Italy-Apr 2014 ( 3,000)
32. Eyes High Post-doctoral grant - University of Calgary, Canada Apr 2014-Mar 2016 (CAN$ 100,000)
33. SIF Oral communication prize awarded by the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF), 36° Congresso nazionale della società italiana di farmacologia Il ruolo della ricerca farmacologica per la crescita e la salute in Italia - Oct 23-26, 2013, Turin, Italy ( 500)
34. SIF Research fellowship for PhD students to conduct research for a 6-month period at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada (Supervisor Dr. Matthew N. Hill) awarded by the Italian Society of Pharmacology (Società Italiana di Farmacologia, SIF)-Apr 2013-Oct 2013 ( 6,000)
35. ICRS Travel Award to support the attendance to the 23rd Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society in Vancouver Jun 21-26, 2013 (US$ 550)
36. DAAD Research fellowship for PhD students to conduct research at a German higher education institution (Supervisor Prof. Gustav Schelling) awarded by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst, DAAD)-Oct 2012 ( 1,000)
37. Travel Award to support the attendance at the Conference Frontiers in Stress and Cognition: From Molecules to Behavior Sep 23-26, 2012, Ascona, Switzerland ( 300)
38. Individual three-year fellowship in Pharmacology and Toxicology released by Sapienza University of Rome Nov 2010- Oct 2013 ( 40,900)

RESEARCH FUNDING
1. Ricerca Giovani Ricercatori (PI) GR-2019-12369216 Italian Ministry of Health - 2021-2024 ( 449,980)
2. Seal of SAPIExcellence grant (PI) - Sapienza University of Rome, Italy Dec 2020-Nov 2021 ( 50,000)
3. Canadian Institutes of Health and Research (CIHR) Postdoctoral national competitive grant (PI) Apr 2016-Feb 2019 (CAN$ 131,250)
4. Alberta Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS) Postdoctoral provincial competitive grant (PI) Apr 2016-Mar 2019 (CAN$ 165,000)
5. Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education Postdoctoral competitive grant (PI), declined - University of Calgary, Canada Apr 2016 (CAN$ 110,000)
6. Cumming School of Medicine Postdoctoral Scholarship Postdoctoral competitive grant (PI), declined - University of Calgary, Canada Apr 2016 (CAN$ 37,500)

ORGANIZATION OF MEETINGS/SYMPOSIA
1. SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZER AND CHAIR - 8th Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Conference May 29 - Jun 02, 2022, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Symposium title: New insights on endocannabinoid regulation of fear memory dynamics: from bench to bedside
2. UNDER 40 SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZER AND CHAIR - 19th Congress of the Italian Society for Neuroscience Sept 9-11, 2021, virtual congress. Symposium title: Exploring the behavioral signature of abnormal brain endocannabinoid signaling
3. CONFERENCE CHAIR - Gordon Research Seminar Amygdala Function in Emotion, Cognition & Disease: Sex Differences, Physiological Mechanisms and Pathological Conditions of the Amygdala Aug 3 - 4, 2019, Easton, Massachusetts, USA
4. SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZER - 7th Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Conference Jun 23-27, 2019, Marrakech, Morocco. Symposium title: New perspectives on fear memory-related neuronal networks: Integrating electrophysiological, molecular and behavioral approaches
5. SCIENTIFIC JUDGE COMMITTEE MEMBER - Hotchkiss Brain Institute Summer Student Symposium Aug 15 2017, Calgary (AB), Canada.
6. SYMPOSIUM CHAIR - 27th Annual ICRS Symposium on the Cannabinoids Jun 22-27, 2017, Montreal (QB), Canada. Symposium title: Anxiety, Fear and PTSD
7. PROGRAMME COMMITTEE MEMBER - 27th Annual ICRS Symposium on the Cannabinoids Jun 22-27, 2017, Montreal (QB), Canada.
8. SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZER AND CHAIR - 6th Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Conference Jun 12-15, 2017, Malta. Symposium title: Neurological mechanisms of the impact of stress on memory and emotionality in health and disease: Insights from animal and clinical studies
9. SYMPOSIUM CHAIR - Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain Feb 18-20, 2016, Fernie (BC), Canada. Symposium title: EEG
10. SYMPOSIUM CHAIR - Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain Feb 18-20, 2016, Fernie (BC), Canada. Symposium title: Facilitating recovery
11. SCIENTIFIC JUDGE COMMITTEE MEMBER - 24th Annual ICRS Symposium on the Cannabinoids Jun 28 - July 3, 2014, Baveno, Italy.
12. SCIENTIFIC SECRETARIAT - The Emotional Brain: From neurobiology to new therapeutic opportunities Sep 5-6, 2011, Rome, Italy.

BOOK CHAPTERS
1. Morena M., Mancini G.F., Campolongo P. Prediction of susceptibility/resilience towards animal models of post-traumatic stress disease (PTSD). In: Jaanus (Ed.) Psychiatric Vulnerability, and Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Tests and Models in Mice and Rats. Neuromethods Book Series. Springer Nature Switzerland, in press. Electronic ISSN 1940-6045; Print ISSN 0893-2336.
2. Morena M. and Campolongo P. Disturbi d Ansia (Anxiety Disorders). In: Calignano (Ed.) Manuale di Farmacoterapia (Pharmacotherapy Handbook). Idelson-Gnocchi, 2019. ISBN: 9788879476874; pp. 677-702.
3. Morena M. and Campolongo P. Endocannabinoid modulation of memory for emotionally arousing experiences. In: Fattore and Campolongo (eds.) Cannabinoids Modulation of Emotion, Memory, and Motivation. Springer-Verlag New York, 2014. ISBN 978-1-4939-2293-2.

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS AT NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS & ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
1. Morena M. Endocannabinoid modulation of stress influence on mechanisms of fear extinction invited talk, symposium 40th National Congress of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) Mar 09-13, 2021, Virtual meeting
2. Morena M., Colangeli R., Nastase A. S., Santori A., Teskey G. C., Hill M. N. Inhibition of the endocannabinoid anandamide degradation restores stress-mediated impairments of contextual fear memory extinction and hippocampal in vivo long-term synaptic plasticity selected talk Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain - Feb 22-24, 2019, Fernie (BC), Canada
3. Morena M., Colangeli R., Nastase A. S., Santori A., Teskey G. C., Hill M. N. Inhibition of the endocannabinoid anandamide degradation restores stress-mediated impairments of contextual fear memory extinction and hippocampal in vivo long-term synaptic plasticity selected Data Blitz talk - ACNP meeting 2018 Dec 9-13, 2018, Hollywood (Florida) USA
4. Morena M. Enhancing endocannabinoid neurotransmission augments the efficacy of extinction training and ameliorates traumatic stress-induced behavioral alterations in rats , invited talk Young Research Award 2017, Dept. Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome Aug 12 2018, Rome, Italy
5. Morena M. Overexpression of the endocannabinoid anandamide degrading enzyme in the basolateral amygdala paradoxically decreases anxiety and fear memory selected lightning talk The 2018 International Conference on Learning and Memory Apr 18-22, 2018, Huntington Beach, California, USA
6. Morena M. Impact of different stress intensities on cognition and emotion: a focus on endocannabinoids invited talk, symposium 38th National Congress of the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) Oct 25-28, 2017, Rimini, Italy
7. Morena M., Leitl K. D., Rashid A., Josselyn S. A., Hill M. Fatty acid amide hydrolase overexpression in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala induces paradoxical effects on anxiety and fear memory in rats selected talk Gordon Research Seminar Cannabinoid function in the CNS - Aug 19-20, 2017, Waterville Valley (NH), USA
8. Morena M., Leitl K. D., Rashid A., Josselyn S. A., Hill M. Fatty acid amide hydrolase overexpression in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala induces paradoxical effects on anxiety and fear memory in rats selected talk 27th Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society 2017 - Jun 22-27, 2017, Montreal (QB), Canada
9. Morena M. Modulation of cognition and emotion by the endocannabinoid signaling is dependent on stress and arousal state invited talk, symposium 6th Conference of the Mediterranean Neuroscience Society 2017 - Jun 12-15, 2017, Malta
10. Morena M. Paradoxical effects of fatty acid amide hydrolase overexpression in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala in anxiety and fear memory in rats selected talk Munich Winter Conference on Stress Mar 19-22, 2017, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
11. Morena M., Leitl K. D., Rashid A., Josselyn S. A., Hill M. Fatty acid amide hydrolase overexpression in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala paradoxically decreases anxiety and reduces fear expression in rats selected talk Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain - Feb 23-25, 2017, Fernie (BC), Canada
12. Morena M. Cannabis and PTSD: From neurobiology to clinical implications invited talk - Medical Cannabis & Clinical Research in Canada, Clinical Research Association of Canada Feb 2, 2017, Calgary (AB), Canada
13. Morena M. Endocannabinoid modulation of cognition and emotion: Influences of stress and arousal state invited talk HBI Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year, Hotchkiss brain Institute, University of Calgary May 13, 2016, Calgary (AB), Canada
14. Morena M. Endocannabinoid modulation of cognition and emotion is influenced by arousal state invited talk Youth Mental Health Day 2016, The Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary Mar 7, 2016, Calgary (AB), Canada
15. Morena M. Training-associated emotional arousal shapes endocannabinoid modulation of spatial memory retrieval in rats , invited talk Young Research Award 2015, Dept. Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome Mar 1 2016, Rome, Italy
16. Morena M. Stress effects on memory: The role of the endocannabinoid system , invited talk, symposium Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015, 61:20; PS4.3.2 - ISPNE Conference: Stress and the Brain, from Fertility to Senility Sep 8-11, 2015, Edinburgh, Scotland
17. Morena M., De Castro V., Gray J. M., Trezza V., Roozendaal B., Hill M. N. and Campolongo P. Learning under stress differentially affects cannabinoid modulation of spatial memory retrieval in rats , selected talk Canadian Spring Conference on Behaviour and Brain - Feb 19-21, 2015, Fernie (BC), Canada
18. Morena M., Peloso A., Trezza V., Hill M. N. and Campolongo P. Learning under stress differentially affects cannabinoid modulation of spatial memory retrieval in rats , selected talk 24th Annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society 2014 - Jun 28-Jul 3, 2014, Baveno, Italy
19. Morena M., Peloso A., Campolongo P., Cuomo V. Context-associated emotional arousal shapes endocannabinoid modulation of spatial memory retrieval in rats , selected talk 36th Conference of the Italian Society of Pharmacology - Oct 23-26, 2013, Turin, Italy

More than 50 poster presentations at National/International scientific conferences

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
1. On line article. Title: Struggling to forget: Memory researcher studies PTSD causes and cure ; UToday (University of Calgary on line news service), Mar 17 2016. https://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2016-03-17/struggling-forget-memory...
2. Newspaper article. Title: U of C studies marijuana link to possible PTSD cure ; Calgary Herald, Mar 17 2016. http://calgaryherald.com/health/u-of-c-studies-marijuana-link-to-possibl...
3. Newspaper article. Title: Testing pot to help PTSD ; Calgary Sun, March 17 2016.
4. On line video interview. Title: Maria Morena, PhD ; AIHS Channel, March 17 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5OgFcyn2I4&feature=youtu.be
5. On line article. Title: Da Teggiano al Canada per dare una mano alla scienza. La storia della ricercatrice Maria Morena Alla University of Calgary Maria studia per curare il Disturbo da Stress Post Traumatico ; OndaNews, March 29 2016. http://www.ondanews.it/da-teggiano-al-canada-per-dare-una-mano-alla-scie...
6. On line article. Title: Premi e riconoscimenti per una ricercatrice di Teggiano. Il Canada incorona Maria Morena ; Italia2TV, March 29 2016. http://www.italia2tv.it/2016/03/29/premi-riconoscimenti-ricercatrice-teg...
7. On line article. Title: Un Vallo di cervelli (in fuga): Maria Morena ; La Mosca del Mattino-Blog, March 29 2016. https://passorrentino.wordpress.com/2016/03/29/un-vallo-di-cervelli-in-f...
8. Radio interview. Radio Alfa, Salerno, Italy. Program: Salernitani nel mondo. Title: Salernitani nel Mondo: la ricercatrice Maria Morena in Canada studia i meccanismi dei ricordi , March 30 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFHlPPrZlbg
9. Radio interview. CKUA, Edmonton (AB), Canada. Program: Innovation Anthology. Title: Brain research into ptsd memories , April 5 2016
10. Magazine article. Title: Wiping out the fear, using our brain chemistry to help battle PTSD . Apple magazine, Summer 2016, issue 22, page 37.
http://www.applemag-digital.com/applemag/summer_2016?pg=37#pg37