Marisela Morales (neuroscientist)

Marisela Morales is a renowned neuroscientist known for her significant contributions to the field of neuroscience. She is currently serving as the Chief of the Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Morales was born and raised in Mexico. She completed her undergraduate studies in biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She then pursued her doctoral degree in neurobiology from the same university.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing her doctorate, Morales moved to the United States to join the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a postdoctoral fellow. She later became a staff scientist and then the Chief of the Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch at NIDA.

Morales' research primarily focuses on the neurobiology of drug addiction. She has made significant contributions to understanding the brain's reward system and how it is affected by addictive substances. Her work has helped to elucidate the neural circuits and neurotransmitters involved in drug addiction, providing valuable insights for the development of new treatments.

Awards and Recognition[edit | edit source]

Morales has received numerous awards and recognition for her work in neuroscience. She was awarded the NIDA's Director's Award of Merit in 2010 and the Society for Neuroscience's Jacob P. Waletzky Award in 2011.