Next generation cannabinoids for chronic pain and opioid withdrawal syndrome – An alternative to opioid treatments and stemming the opioid crisis in Canada

The recent legalization of cannabis in Canada offers a unique opportunity to conduct fundamental research without the bureaucracy issues faced in other countries. The current state of cannabinoid-based therapies have focused their use in the treatment of cancer, pain, inflammation and opioid addiction, and suffer from unwanted side effects and lack of efficacy. Furthermore, the current opioid epidemic and the lack of better pain management strategies highlight the urgency for long-term solutions for chronic pain management. Our focus is on the development of novel cannabinoid lead compounds that selectively target the cannabinoid and related receptors (i.e. CB1, CB2, GPR55, opioid- and serotonin receptors), without suffering from the poor pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.

Faculty Supervisor:

Loren J. Martin

Student:

Marcia Roy;Chulmin Cho

Partner:

Dalriada Drug Discovery

Discipline:

Psychology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Toronto