Samantha Baglot
PhD Candidate
​(2018-present)

Contact: [email protected]

Research. ​​​Overall, my research investigates the endocrine, immune, and behavioural effects of developmental exposure to cannabis. Utilizing cannabis vapour administration chambers my research specifically examines the effects of prenatal exposure to cannabis on endocannabinoid-, stress-, and immune-system development, as well as structural brain development and later life behaviour (stress-reactive, social, feeding) and metabolism. I have also collaborated on the effects of prenatal cannabis exposure on maternal brain functioning, microbiome and immune functioning, as well as placental functioning.

​Hobbies. ​​​In my free time, I love to cycle (both outdoors or in a spin class), hike, practice yoga, and ski. I am a second-degree black belt in Meibukan Go-Ju Ryu Karate and a first-degree in Kobudo (Weapons).​​

Favourite paper. VanRyzin et al. (2019). Microglial Phagocytosis of Newborn Cells Is Induced by Endocannabinoids and Sculpts Sex Differences in Juvenile Rat Social Play. Neuron, 102(2): 435-449. This paper highlights the developmental and sex-specific role of the endocannabinoid system in promoting the immune system to shape the circuity underlying social play behaviour - and is the first paper that got me interested in how prenatal cannabis exposure would alter immune system development and social behaviour functioning.

Publications

SELECT PUBLICATIONS​

Aukema RJ, Baglot SL, Scheufen J, Lightfoot SHM, Hill MN. (2024). Circadian Influence on Acute Stress-induced Changes in Cortico-limbic Endocannabinoid Levels in Adult Male Rats. Neuroscience, 537: 84-92. 

Baglot SL, VanRyzin JW, Marquardt AE, Aukema RJ, Petrie GN, Hume C, Reinl EL, Bieber JB, McLaughlin RJ, McCarthy MM, Hill MN. (2022). Maternal-fetal transmission of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites following inhalation and injection exposure during pregnancy in rats. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 100(3):713-730.

Baglot SL, Hume C, Petrie GN, Aukema RJ, Lightfoot SHM, Grace LM, Zhou R, Parker L, Rho JM, Borgland SL, McLaughlin RJ, Brechenmacher L, Hill MN. (2021). Pharmacokinetics and Central Accumulation of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its Bioactive Metabolites Are Influenced by Route of Administration and Sex in Rats. Scientific Reports, 11(1):23990.

FULL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
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Awards

Select Awards:

• Giving Day Doctoral Completion Award (2023)
• HBI Award for Excellence in Brain and Mental Health (2023)
  
• Speaker Award for Cannabinoid Gordon Research Conference (2023)
• Presentation Award of Excellence - Gold Category at Canadian Student Health Research Forum (2021)
  
• Graduate Citizenship Award (2019), University of Calgary Graduate Student Association
• Best Trainee Talk at Perinatal Origins of Neuropsychiatric Disorders (POND) Conference (2019)

Funding:​

• ii'taa'poh'to'p Graduate Scholarship (2021-Present), University of Calgary
  
• Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship – Indigenous (2021-Present), University of Calgary
• Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute Trainee Award (2021-2023), University of Calgary
• Brain Canada CCIC Rising Stars Trainee Award (2022-2023), University of Calgary
• POND Young Investigator Trainee Program (2019), Sapienza Università di Roma
  
• CIHR Vanier Doctoral Award (2018-2021), Canadian Institute of Health Research, University of Calgary
• Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship and Tuition Award (2015-2017), University of British Columbia
• NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship Master's Award (2015-2016), Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, University of British Columbia

education

​​I completed my BA in Psychology (2011-2015) and MSc in Neuroscience (2015-2018) from the University of British Columbia. During my MSc degree I was co-supervised by Drs. Joanne Weinberg and Liisa Galea and I investigated a possible role for oxytocin in attenuating the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on adult stress functioning, hippocampal neurogenesis, and anxiety-like behaviour.