Pitch & Partner 2020: Translational Research Edition Winner – People’s Choice Award | Adie Rae (Wilson-Poe), Ph.D., Assistant Scientist, Legacy Research Institute | Cannabis vapor and opioid harm reduction are bridging the preclinical chasm.
Despite the fact that millions of Americans currently use whole-plant cannabis, there have been shockingly few animal studies that use whole-plant preparations or inhalation as the route of administration. This lab is identifying phenotypes of cannabis (with various ratios of THC, CBD, and other molecules) which provide maximally beneficial clinical outcomes (pain relief and opioid reduction) with minimal side effects such as lung injury, abuse liability, and cognitive deficits. Because cannabis is a Federal Schedule I substance, there are extensive barriers to conducting research in humans. By using a clinically-relevant model, this lab has the opportunity to navigate around these barriers and extensively characterize the health effects and mechanisms of inhaled cannabis vapor.
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