BLOOMINGDALE, NJ, July 02, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Emmanuel S. Onaivi has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Onaivi has established a distinguished career in neuroscience and pharmacology, marked by groundbreaking research and international recognition. Since 2023, he has served as the editor-in-chief of Advances in Drug & Alcohol Research in Wayne, New Jersey. In this capacity, he leads a coalition of addiction journals, collaborating with organizations such as Frontiers and the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors. Dr. Onaivi has played a pivotal role in uniting the International Narcotic Research Council and the leadership of the International Drug Abuse Research Society to advance the field's collective knowledge.

Beyond these responsibilities, Dr. Onaivi's editorial leadership is complemented by his ongoing commitment to teaching pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, supervising student research projects, overseeing an animal facility, conducting immunohistochemistry, preparing laboratory materials and guiding students through laboratory work and dissection. Additionally, he teaches a bio seminar course for students completing their Bachelor of Science degrees.

For more than two decades, Dr. Onaivi has been a full professor with tenure at William Paterson University of New Jersey, beginning his tenure in 2000. He is recognized as one of the university's outstanding scientists on three occasions and is renowned for his expertise in cannabinoids. At William Paterson University, he has trained numerous postdoctoral scientists and mentored students from around the world, including those sent by scholars from Spain, China and Brazil. Many of Dr. Onaivi's former students have advanced to become professors and doctors themselves.

Dr. Onaivi's most notable scientific achievement is the discovery of CB2 receptors in neurons within the human brain. This breakthrough brought him international acclaim and positioned him among the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide according to Scholar GPS, ranking 27th globally in neuroscience and cannabinoids.

Additionally, Dr. Onaivi further advanced the field by genetically engineering mouse models lacking CB2 receptors in dopamine neurons, an innovation that has provided critical insights into neuroinflammation and its role in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and drug addiction. His work has laid a foundation for ongoing research into brain function and dysfunction.

Complementing his professorship, Dr. Onaivi has served as a guest scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse within the National Institutes of Health for over 20 years. His contributions there have included collaborative research projects that continue to shape understanding of cannabinoid receptors' behavioral effects.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Onaivi was an associate professor at Vanderbilt University, where he contributed to academic advancement in neuroscience. Prior to that role, he was an assistant professor at Meharry Medical College, where he began shaping his research trajectory in neuropharmacology. He also spent two years as a visiting scientist at Stanford University in California, gaining valuable experience that informed his later discoveries. His academic journey began as an instructor at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Dr. Onaivi's professional affiliations reflect his commitment to advancing neuroscience globally. He has been a member of the Society for Neuroscience for over 25 years and is actively involved with both the International Drug Abuse Research Society and the International Narcotic Research Council.

Academically, Dr. Onaivi completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia following his Doctor of Philosophy in neuroscience and neuropharmacology from the University of Bradford in England. He also earned a Master of Science in pharmacology from the University of Bradford and completed coursework at Imperial College London in England. His foundational training includes a pharmacy degree from Nigeria.

Reflecting on his professional journey, Dr. Onaivi attributes his success to hard work, motivation and a desire to contribute meaningfully to humanity — qualities that have propelled him to international prominence.

Throughout his career, Dr. Onaivi has received significant honors, including a Fulbright Scholarship awarded by William Paterson University of New Jersey and the United States Department of State for 2013 to 2014. This opportunity enabled him to spend a year at the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, where he delivered lectures across South and East Africa.

Dr. Onaivi has been a contributor to National Institutes of Health grant-funded studies examining behavioral effects associated with the modulation of CB2 cannabinoid receptors since 2020. His recent publications include "Psychiatric Disorders and Cannabinoid Receptors," published in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology in 2021, and "Low Basal CB2R in Dopamine Neurons and Microglia Influences Cannabinoid Tetrad Effects," published in the International Journal of Molecular Science in 2020. These represent a body of work spanning three decades, encompassing topics such as endocannabinoid systems, drug reward and addiction, neuropsychiatric disorders and cannabinoid receptor expression in the brain.

Among other distinctions, Dr. Onaivi was selected to represent New Jersey by presenting undergraduate research on cannabinoid-vanilloid interactions before the United States Congress, a testament to his leadership within both academia and public policy spheres. He was recently invited to serve as visiting professor at the University of Cagliari in Italy, where he will deliver lectures and participate in collaborative research.

Outside his professional pursuits, Dr. Onaivi enjoys playing soccer, field hockey, tennis, table tennis and football, as well as jogging and other exercises, activities that reflect his commitment to personal well-being alongside scientific achievement.

Looking ahead, Dr. Onaivi seeks additional funding for his research efforts, with the aim of expanding his team by bringing on more postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students interested in exploring artificial intelligence applications for addiction treatment discovery. He maintains active collaborations with scientists across Japan, Africa, South America and Canada, broadening both the reach and impact of his multidisciplinary research network. His primary goal remains securing resources necessary to develop effective cures for addiction while continuing to mentor emerging scholars worldwide.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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