Recognizing Impact: Haley Vecchiarelli

Haley Vecchiarelli’s, an international PhD student in the Neuroscience program, research, using preclinical models, looks at how peripheral inflammation, specifically a model of Crohn's Disease, changes the brain's endogenous cannabinoid levels (your body's version of the psychoactive constituent of cannabis, THC), and how that relates to comorbid anxiety-like behaviour. Cannabinoids are anti-stress, anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory, making them an ideal candidate system for investigating interactions between these systems. We have found that the endocannabinoid system is altered in regions that regulate anxiety, and that by reversing these changes in the endocannabinoid system, we are able to reverse anxiety-like behaviour.

There is a large degree of comorbidities between inflammatory diseases (such as inflammatory bowel diseases and arthritis) and stress-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (such as anxiety disorders and depression). However, the mechanisms underlying these comorbidities have not been fully elucidated. This research will hopefully provide insights into the mechanisms underlying these comorbidities, and provide evidence for the use of cannabinoids as a potential two-pronged therapeutic to treat anxiety, as well as the underlying inflammation.

Haley credits her ability to do research in neuroscience laboratory in high school for her interest in studying how the brain works.  However, it wasn’t until after completing her undergraduate schooling when working in a lab studied neuroimmunology, or how the brain interacts with the immune system, that she felt she found her neuroscience niche, which is understanding how the immune system interacts with the brain to influence behaviour. “For a long time,” Haley explains, “the brain was thought to be immune privileged, and that outside of disease states, there was little interaction between these two systems, but we now know that this is not the case, and it is exciting to be in this growing field. That is one of the best parts about research, is that in response to new methodologies and data, we get a better understanding of the world.”

It is very important to Haley to be able to give back and advocate. She has sat on a number of internal committees, as well as the planning committees for local and international conferences. She has volunteered with my DGA (the HBITO), CFD and the GSA, having previously served as CFD co-Chair/Chair and chaired the GSA Student Experience and Newcomers and International Students Committee.  Currently she is the chair of the GSA Awards Committee. Through these positions she has been an advocate for graduate students, especially their well-being. Though there are few formal teaching opportunities in her program, she has been actively mentoring undergraduates and this year is part of the SAGES program at the UofC. It is important that her teaching and research practice to incorporate diversity, inclusion and equity, as well as decolonialization and desettling, so she spends time researching and reflecting on these themes.

Outside of this, Haley plays in the UofC intramural volleyball league with members of her DGA, practices pilates, enjoys reading, podcasts and video games.