Gabriella Gobbi is an Italo-Canadian psychiatrist and neuroscientist whose research explores novel treatments for mental health disorders.[1][2][3] Gobbi is a professor at McGill University's Department of Psychiatry and a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Therapeutics for Mental Health.[2][4]
In 1991, Gobbi completed a Doctor of Medicine degree, and specialized in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (1995) at the Catholic University of Rome in Italy and later obtained a PhD in neuroscience under the supervision of Gianluigi Gessa. [1]
Gobbi's research has shown that regular administration of low doses of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) reduces anxiety, through mechanisms similar commonly prescribed classes of antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and that LSD signaling also activates the mTOR signalling pathway.[5][6][7][8]
Dr. Gobbi’s lab discovered that adolescent cannabis consumption induces depression-like behavior in animals.[9][10] Upon finding that there is a link between depression and long-term cannabis consumption in young people,[11] Gobbi engaged widely with stakeholders and the media, ultimately resulting in a change in the legal age of cannabis consumption in Quebec from 18 to 21, and her receiving the 2020 Principal's Prize for Public Engagement through Media (Established Academics category) from McGill University.[12]
Even if melatonin was isolated more than 60 years ago, the roles of GPCR melatonin receptors (named MT1 and MT2) remained unknown. Her lab discovered that the MT1 and MT2 receptors have very specialized functions: while the MT1 activates REM sleep, the MT2 receptor acts on NREM sleep.[13][14] Her lab also synthesized and developed novel selective MT2 receptors partial agonists for the treatment of insomnia[15] and neuropathic pain.[16]
Dr Gobbi is a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.