Biography

Dr. Ken Mackie is a Distinguished Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington, a Linda & Jack Gill Chair for Neuroscience, and an Adjunct Professor of Anesthesiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He previously served as Director of the Gill Institute for Neuroscience and continues to be a foundational leader in cannabinoid neuroscience at IU.

Dr. Mackie earned his M.D. from Yale University, completed clinical training in internal medicine and anesthesiology, and pursued postdoctoral research at Rockefeller University and the University of Washington. He held faculty positions at the University of Washington before joining Indiana University in 2007 as a Gill Chair.

An international authority on the endocannabinoid system, Dr. Mackie’s research explores how endogenous cannabinoids and phytocannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) interact with cannabinoid receptors to influence synaptic signaling, neural circuit function, and behavior. His laboratory uses electrophysiology, imaging, molecular, and biochemical approaches to investigate cannabinoid receptor signaling pathways and their roles in synaptic plasticity, pain, cognition, and neural development.

Dr. Mackie’s contributions include landmark studies and high-impact reviews defining the distribution, physiology, and pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors, as well as investigations into how endocannabinoid signaling modulates neuronal communication and behavior. His extensive publication record ranges from foundational discoveries about CB1/CB2 receptor function to the broad implications of therapeutic modulation of the endocannabinoid system. 

His work has shaped current understanding of how cannabinoids affect the brain and body and continues to inform research on the therapeutic potential and risks associated with cannabinoids across development and disease.

Publications

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