Aurora Cannabis and UFC Announce Joint Research Program
Canadian company Aurora Cannabis Inc. and mixed martial arts organization UFC have announced the launch of a joint clinical research program that will examine the use of hemp-derived CBD as an effective treatment for pain, inflammation, wound-healing and recovery on MMA athletes
The groundbreaking research partnership is aimed at understanding key health and recovery needs of elite athletes in such a highly physical and competitive sport as mixed martial arts. Research data will then be used to drive the development of science-backed, hemp-derived CBD topicals. These new products will help combat the rapidly growing market of untested CBD treatments currently being used by athletes.
Once research is complete, any resulting product will launch in the U.S. under the new high-performance sports brand ROAR Sports. Through analysis of athlete needs and scientific data, ROAR Sports will challenge the status quo, seek to alleviate the stresses of competition and earn designation as the “Official CBD product of UFC.”
The multi-phase clinical study at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas will be led by Dr. Jason Dyck, chair of Aurora’s Global Scientific Oversight Commitee; Dr. Kelly Narine, Aurora’s Vice President Global Research and Medical Affairs; and the team of sports performance experts at the UFC Performance Institute, led by Dr. Duncan French, UFC Vice President of Performance.
“Our partnership with UFC is about committing to the science that will educate and advocate,” said Aurora CEO Terry Booth. “We Are going to work together to change the way people think, to change the industry, and to launce the first hemp-derived CBD products that are backed by scientific research. The brand building and product development are all part of our move into the U.S., and in collaboration with UFC, and we intend to play a major role in that market.”
“Collaborating with Aurora is the best way to educate ourselves and our fighters about the impact of CBD on MMA athletes and our sport,” said Dr. French. “We want to apply science and see where it leads us. Ideally, these studies will give us the clarity we need to determine the effectiveness of hemp-derived CBD on athlete health and injury recovery.”
