Ph.D, AFHEA
Senior Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Partner
- About
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- Email Address
- m.cascio@abdn.ac.uk
- Office Address
Monday to Wednesday: University Office, Office 104, Old Aberdeen, Regent Walk, Aberdeen AB24 3FX. Telephone: 01224 272057
Thursday and Friday: Polwarth Building, Office 3:035, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB252ZD. Telephone: 01224 437084
- School/Department
- Directorate of People
Biography
I graduated in July 2002 in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies (Master degree-UK equivalent) from the University of Palermo (Italy), obtaining the highest mark possible under the system (110/110 cum laude).
From September 2000 to June 2002 I was based in Naples where I joined the “Endocannabinoid Research Group”, at the National Council of Research. There, I started my research aimed at understanding the involvement of the “Endocannabinoid System” in both pathological and physiological conditions.
In my PhD project I explored some pharmacological strategies for targeting the endocannabinoid system. Also, I was involved in a project that focused on the study of one of the main enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol: diacyl-glycerol lipase (DGL). Most of this work was directed at the characterization of the two isoforms (alpha and beta) of this enzyme and at the design, synthesis (done by collaborators) and biological evaluation of molecules able to inhibit DGL selectively.
In 2007, I moved to the University of Aberdeen and as Research Fellow (supported by GW Pharmaceuticals) I have been involved, in collaboration with Professor Roger Pertwee, in the pharmacological in vitro characterization of new Cannabis-derived cannabinoids.
In 2012 I was short-listed as Lecturer in Pharmacology at the University of Aberdeen.
In 2014 I was promoted to Research Fellow, Grade 7 (Lecturer grade).
I am co-author of more than 60 peer-reviewed papers
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Cascio+MG
I am co-author of 6 book chapters:
- Cascio MG and Pertwee, R.G. Known pharmacological actions of nine non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids. Chapter 6, in “Handbook of Cannabis”, edited by Roger Pertwee.
- Pertwee RG. and Cascio MG. Chemical constituents of cannabis that activate cannabinoid receptors. Chapter 7, in “Handbook of Cannabis”, edited by Roger Pertwee.
- Cascio MG. and Pertwee RG. The function of the endocannabinoid system. Chapter 3, in “Marijuana and Madness”, second edition, edited by David Castle, Robin M. Murray and Deepack Cyril D’Souza.
- Cascio MG and Marini P. Biosynthesis and Fate of endocannabinoids. Chapter 3, in Handbook of Endocannabinoids, edited by Roger Pertwee (In progress).
- Marini P, Cascio MG and Pertwee RG. The cyclic AMP assay. "Endocannabinoid signaling: Methods and Protocols" edited by Dr Mauro Maccarrone.
- Cascio MG, Marini P, and Pertwee RG. The displacement binding assay using the cannabinoid CB2 receptor. "Endocannabinoid signaling: Methods and Protocols" edited by Dr Mauro Maccarrone.
Currently:
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I am the Departmental co-ordinator of the Athena SWAN Charter which recognises work undertaken in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) and AHSSBL (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Law) areas in academic, professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women. In my role, I ensure that individual Schools/Departments continue to take actions to overcome barriers to career progression for ALL.
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I am the Institutional co-ordinator of the Race Equality Charter which aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within Higher Education. The Charter provides a framework through which institutions work to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of minority ethnic staff and students.
Currently, 16 out of 16 Schools/Institutes at Aberdeen University hold an Athena SWAN Bronze award.
The Institution holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award since 2012 and it is a member of the Race Equality Charter since September 2019.
If you wish to find out more about the Athena SWAN Charter, please visit:
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/strategy-and-governance/athena-swan-681.php
https://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena-swan/
If you wish to find out more about the Race Equality Charter, please visit:
https://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters/race-equality-charter/about-race-equality-charter/
If you wish to get in touch, please email me! m.cascio@abdn.ac.uk
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Membership of Professional Bodies/Committees/Working Groups
Member of the University Postdoctoral Research Committee, January 2020;
Member of the University Racial Harrassment Working Group, since January 2020;
Member of the University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, January 2019-at present;
Lead of the Institutional Athena SWAN Steering Group from January 2019;
Member of the University Inclusion Week working group, November 2018-at present;
Unconscious Bias Observer at Promotions Committees, 2018;
Member of the Gender Action Plan Committee (University of Aberdeen), 2017-at present;
Member of Equality and Diversity Research Group (School of Psychology/University of Aberdeen) 2016-at present;
Member of the University Equality and Diversity Advisory Group (AGED), 2015-2018;
Member of the University Athena SWAN Self-assessment Team (GESG), 2014-2018;
Member of STEMM Self Assessment Teams, 2014-at present;
Member of the Radiation Hazards Sub Committee, University of Aberdeen, 2012-2014;
Member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS), 2004-2014;
- External Memberships
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Professional activities
- Radiation Protection Supervisor, Level 6th, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, (2012-2014).
- Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Neuropharmacology, Research topic:”Additive drugs targeting GPCRs: new cross-talk mechanisms" (2013-2014).
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, since 2012
- Paper co-evaluator at F1000 faculty (www.F1000biology.com)
- Peer reviewer of international scientific journals
- Book reviewer: “Cannabinoids in Nature and Medicine”, Didier M. Lambert Editor
- Research
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Research Overview
Main research interests are:
. Medicinal chemistry
. Pharmacology and therapeutic potential of plant cannabinoids
· Pharmacology of allosteric sites on cannabinoid receptors
· Novel cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor ligands
· New pharmacological targets for cannabinoids
· Roles of the endocannabinoid system in health and disease
. Anti-proliferative effects of the omega 3 fatty acids/ethanolamides in prostate cancer
Technical Experience
Biochemistry assays: Western Blotting, PCR, Plasmid Transfection, Lipid extraction from tissues and cells.
Immunofluorimetric assays: p-ERK 1/2 AlphaScreen®, SureFire® (Envision, Perkin Elmer), E.L.I.S.A., cyclic AMP, β-arrestin.
Pharmacological assay: [35S]GTPγS binding, [3H]Displacement binding, Impedance-based system (RT-CES®) for dynamic monitoring of GPCRs activation in living cells.
Chromatography (Silica gel and HPLC).
Cells culturing
Simple synthesis of chemical tools
Current Research
Maria Grazia Cascio's current research is directed at elucidating the pharmacological actions of plant cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabigerol (CBG). In addition, she is currently involved in projects aimed at identifying new potent and selective ligands for the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors. For this she is collaborating with chemists based in Italy.
My research also focuses on the study of the anti-proliferative effects of two fish oil omega 3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) and their ethanolamides (DHEA and EPEA) in two prostate cancer cell lines, PC3 and LNCaP.
Collaborations
Internal collaborators
Dr Iain Brown (Project: Prostate cancer)
Professor Matteo Zanda (Project: New CB1 ligands for PET)
Dr Mirela Delibegovic (Project: The study of the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in diabetic nephropathy).
External collaborators
Dr Ben Whalley, University of Reading (Project: The anticonvulsant properties of some plant-derived cannabinoids);
Professor Angelo Izzo, University “Federico II” of Naples (Project: The ability of some plant-derived cannabinoids to ameliorate murine colitis;
Professor Daniela Parolaro, University of Milan (Project: The ability of some plant-derived cannabinoids to ameliorate schizophrenia);
Dr Barbara Costa, University of Busto Arstizio (Project: Investigation of the analgesic properties of the plant-derived cannabigerol),
Dr Ganesh Takhur, (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston) (Project: Investigation of the pharmacological profile of new synthetic CB1 cannabinoid receptor Positive Allosteric Modulators);
Professor Federico Corelli and Dr Antonella Brizzi, (University of Siena),
Professor Giovanni Appendino (University of Novara);
Professor Romano Silvestri and Professor Giorgio Ortar (University of Rome).
Funding and Grants
Delibegovic M, Cascio MG and Pertwee RG. Diabetes. Eighteen months (2014-2016). £130,306.
Takhur G, Cascio MG, Pertwee RG et al.,. NIDA. Five years (2014 to 2019). £248,098.
Pertwee RG and Cascio MG. Honours Student Project, 10 weeks (January 2014 - March 2014), University of Aberdeen, £400.
Cascio MG. Summer student from Brazil, 3 months (June 2013 - August, 2013), University of Aberdeen, £600.
Cascio MG, Marini P, Brown I, Pertwee R.G. NHS Grampian Endowment Research Fund, Scotland, UK. One year (April 2013- March 2014). £7,680.
Brown I, Cascio MG, Sneddon AA, Wahle KWJ, Pertwee RG, Heys SD. Fraserburgh Moonlight Prowl and University of Aberdeen. PhD studentship in Nutrition and Cancer. Three years (2010 to 2013). Student stipend, home/EU fees and £3,000 towards consumables.
Cascio MG and Pertwee RG. Honours Student Project, 10 weeks (January 2012 - March 2012), University of Aberdeen, £1,200.
Brown I, Cascio MG, Heys SD, Pertwee RG. & Ross RA. Tenovus Scotland. One year (April 2010-March 2011). £9,800.
Brown I, Cascio MG. & Pertwee RG. NHS GRAMPIAN ENDOWMENTS. One year (April 2010-March 2011). £7,300.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
Supervisor of both undergraduate and PhD students
Student tutor in Life Sciences subjects
- Publications
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Inhibitory effect of salvinorin A, from Salvia divinorum, on ileitis-induced hypermotility: cross-talk between kappa-opioid and cannabinoid CB(1) receptors
British Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 155, no. 5, pp. 681-689Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjp.2008.294
Novel sterically hindered cannabinoid CB1 receptor ligands
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 16, no. 15, pp. 7510-7515Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2008.06.001
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
New tetrazole-based selective anandamide uptake inhibitors
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, vol. 18, no. 9, pp. 2820-2824Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2008.04.003
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Synthesis, cannabinoid receptor affinity, and molecular modeling studies of substituted 1-aryl-5-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamides
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 51, no. 6, pp. 1560-1576Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm070566z
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Carbamoyl tetrazoles as inhibitors of endocannabinoid inactivation: A critical revisitation
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 62-72Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2007.02.023
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
New N-arachidonoylserotonin analogues with potential "dual" mechanism of action against pain
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 50, no. 26, pp. 6554-6569Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm070678q
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
The 1,2,3-triazole ring as a peptido- and olefinomimetic element: Discovery of click yanilloids and cannabinoids
Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, vol. 46, no. 48, pp. 9312-9315Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200703590
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
New 1,8-naphthyridine and quinoline derivatives as CB2 selective agonists
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, vol. 17, no. 23, pp. 6505-6510Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2007.09.089
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Metabolically labile cannabinoid esters: A 'soft drug' approach for the development of cannabinoid-based therapeutic drugs
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, vol. 17, no. 17, pp. 4878-4881Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2007.06.055
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Design, synthesis, binding, and molecular modeling studies of new potent ligands of cannabinoid receptors
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 15, no. 16, pp. 5406-5416Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2007.05.060
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Structure-based virtual screening: Identification of novel CB2 receptor ligands
Letters in Drug Design and Discovery, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 15-19Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/157018007778992829
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Synthesis of a potential photoactivatable anandamide analog
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, vol. 16, no. 14, pp. 3765-3768Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2006.04.059
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Development of the first potential covalent inhibitors of anandamide cellular uptake
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 49, no. 7, pp. 2320-2332Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm051226l
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Oxyhomologues of anandamide and related endolipids: Chemoselective synthesis and biological activity
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 49, no. 7, pp. 2333-2338Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm051240y
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Development of the first potent and specific inhibitors of endocannabinoid biosynthesis
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, vol. 1761, no. 2, pp. 205-212Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2005.12.009
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
New metabolically stable fatty acid amide ligands of cannabinoid receptors: Synthesis and receptor affinity studies
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 138-141Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.09.023
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Endocannabinoid metabolic pathways and enzymes
Current Drug Targets: CNS and Neurological Disorders, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 615-623Contributions to Journals: Review articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/156800705774933104
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Design, synthesis, and binding studies of new potent ligands of cannabinoid receptors
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, vol. 48, no. 23, pp. 7343-7350Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm0501533
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Up-regulation of the endocannabinoid system in the uterus of leptin knockout (ob/ob) mice and implications for fertility
Molecular Human Reproduction, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 21-28Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/molehr/gah130
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Changes in endocannabinoid levels in a rat model of behavioural sensitization to morphine
European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 20, no. 7, pp. 1849-1857Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03645.x
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Behavioral and molecular changes elicited by acute administration of SR141716 to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-tolerant rats: An experimental model of cannabinoid abstinence
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 74, no. 2, pp. 159-170Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2003.12.011
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Differential diurnal variations of anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol levels in rat brain
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, vol. 61, no. 7-8, pp. 945-950Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-003-3453-5
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
A structure-activity relationship study on N -arachidonoyl-amino acids as possible endogenous inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 314, no. 1, pp. 192-196Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.12.075
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Cloning of the first sn1-DAG lipases points to the spatial and temporal regulation of endocannabinoid signaling in the brain
Journal of Cell Biology, vol. 163, no. 3, pp. 463-468Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200305129
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
CB1 cannabinoid receptors and on-demand defense against excitotoxicity
Science, vol. 302, no. 5642, pp. 84-88Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1088208
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus