Cecilia J Hillard

Cecilia J Hillard, PhD is currently a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Director of the Neuroscience Research Center and Associate Dean for Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW).  Dr. Hillard also holds the G. Frederick Kasten, Jr. Chair in Parkinson’s Disease Research.  Dr. Hillard’s research has focused on understanding the mechanisms by which constituents of the cannabis plant affect the brain.  The research conducted by Dr. Hillard, her trainees and collaborators have contributed innovative insights into a previously unknown mechanism by which the brain and body recover homeostasis after stress, injury and exercise.  She has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers and is included in Stanford University’s list of the top 2% of research scientists in the world.  Her research is currently funded by five grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Hillard has trained PhD students (sixteen thus far) and postdoctoral fellows (five thus far).  In addition, she founded the neuroscience doctoral training program in 1996 and served as director until 2010.  This training program graduated over 25 PhD students during her tenure as director.  In 2010, Dr. Hillard founded the Neuroscience Research Center, is a research center that provides faculty mentorship, essential core services and pilot funding for over 90 members.  In the last fourteen years, Dr. Hillard has served as primary research mentor for over a dozen junior faculty.  Thus, she has impacted the research landscape in Wisconsin through her own research studies; contributing to training of the next generation of research scientists; and fostering the careers of research faculty members.