University of California-San Diego · NeuroscienceCannabis and Cognition Lab
Ronald J. Ellis · La Jolla, California
Research Focus
The lab of Dr. Ronald J. Ellis at UC San Diego focuses on the effects of cannabis compounds on the microbiome and neuroinflammation in people living with HIV. They also investigate how physical activity and the enzyme GPLD1 can improve cognitive function in aging individuals with HIV. Through both clinical trials and animal studies, the lab seeks to understand the connections between gut health, inflammation, and brain function in relation to HIV.
HIVcannabidioltetrahydrocannabinolmicrobiomeneuroinflammationGPLD1depressionphysical activitygut healthaging
Research Aims
5AIM 01Characterize the gut microbiota response to cannabinoid exposure in people with HIV and controls.
AIM 02Investigate the effects of GPLD1 on cognitive outcomes related to physical activity in aging individuals with HIV.
AIM 03Study gene expression profiles linked to depression in people living with HIV.
AIM 04Evaluate the relationship between gut health and blood-brain barrier function in HIV patients.
AIM 05Assess the therapeutic potential of cannabis compounds to reduce inflammation in HIV.
Skills the Lab Values
clinical trialsfecal sequencingflow cytometrycognitive assessmentanimal modelsdata analysisPCRcell cultureimmunoassaysneurobehavioral testing
Output against the department
Publications650top 8% of dept.53rd of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations31ktop 13% of dept.86th of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.