Samantha Baglot
PhD Candidate
​(2018-present)

Contact: samantha.baglot@ucalgary.ca

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 either prenatal or adolescent exposure to cannabis on stress and immune system development and functioning, as well as social behaviour.

​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. Favorite paper: “Microglial Phagocytosis of Newborn Cells Is Induced by Endocannabinoids and Sculpts Sex Differences in Juvenile Rat Social Play” (VanRyzin et al., 2019; PubMed link). 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​
Maternal-fetal transmission of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites following inhalation and injection exposure during pregnancy in rats
Baglot SL, VanRyzin JW, Marquardt AE, Aukema RJ, Petrie GN, Hume C, Reinl EL, Bieber JB, McLaughlin RJ, McCarthy MM, Hill MN. (2022)
Journal of Neuroscience Research 100(3):713-730
​LINK

Pharmacokinetics and Central Accumulation of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its Bioactive Metabolites Are Influenced by Route of Administration and Sex in Rats
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)
Scientific Reports 11(1):23990
​LINK

Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on social competence: Asymmetry in play partner preference among heterogeneous triads of male and female rats
Holman PJ, Baglot SL, Morgan E, Weinberg J (2019)
Developmental Psychobiology 61(4):513-524
​LINK

Full list of publications​

Awards

Awards

• Graduate Citizenship Award  (2019); University of Calgary Graduate Student Association
• Best Trainee Talk at Perinatal Origins of Neuropsychiatric Disorders (POND) Conference (2019)
• Young Investigator Trainee Program Award (2019); Perinatal Origins of Neuropsychiatric Disorders (POND) Conference​

Funding

• CIHR Vanier Doctoral Award (2018-present), Canadian Institute of Health Research
• Graduate Recruitment Scholarship in Mental Health (Declined 2018), Mathison Centre 
• 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
• Queen Elizabeth II Graduate (Master's) Scholarship (Declined 2015), University of Calgary​

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.