UC-Davis to Partner with Pharmaceutical Company to Conduct Cannabis Research
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have partnered with a federally compliant pharmaceutical company to analyze the chemical and biological profiles of cannabis for the benefit of law enforcement, health care providers and scientific professionals.
The agreement with Biopharmaceutical Research Company, which is registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is among the first of its kind. UC Davis and BRC researchers will analyze legally acquired cannabis materials in BRC’s labs to understand the chemical composition of THC, CBD or other cannabinoids. There will be nocannabis on the UC Davis campus or any UC Davis-owned or leased property as part of this research.
“While cannabis is already available for medicinal and recreational use in a majority of states, cannabis research has long struggled to keep pace with the law,” said Gail Taylor, professor and chair of the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. “We expect this partnership to bring more scientific understanding of the plant and its products so that regulators can more effectively manage potential risks and benefits.
More details of the project team can be found here.
UC davis and BRC researchers will evaluate existing chemistry methods to analyze cannabis and identify most precise, accurate and reproducible methods for standardization, using diverse Cannabis sativa. In addition, researchers will investigate the interactions between cannabis and microbes, pests and pathogens to determine crop management strategies that protect the environment.
Cannabis-related research is not new to UC Davis. As a leader in agriculture and plant science, UC davis has an extensive research infrastructure in place that is providing insight related to cannabis production, applications for use and social implications.
In order to leverage these strengths and promote transdisciplinary collaborations, UC Davis is establishing a Cannabis and Hemp Research Center.
“The center will stimulate new research and educational exchange by convening conferences and seminars, providing seed funding and engaging with policymakers,” said Cindy Kiel, executive associate vice chancellor for research administration for the Office of Research. “It will also provide a centralized resource to ensure compliance with current laws and policies.”
UC Davis plans to officially launch the center this year and has initiated the process to identify two faculty co-directors.
