Canhealth

On April 15th, a new NCCR Outline proposal on Cannabis and health (NCCR CANHEALTH) has been submitted to the SNFS. 

Background & Rationale: Currently, the production and use of cannabis-derived medicines are in the hands of a multibillion industry, ignoring urgently needed research inquiries. The NCCR Cannabis and Health (CANHEALTH) aims to rectify this by addressing knowledge gaps, employing science to counteract misinformation, and advocating for evidence-based approaches. This will enable ethical and socioeconomic decision-making processes. Recognizing the booming non-medical (recreational) and medical use of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) products in Switzerland, the NCCR CANHEALTH will establish an internationally leading Swiss research network of basic and clinical re-searchers on cannabis/cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system with a broader expertise and long-term vision related to risks and benefits of psychoactive substances and mental health.

Overall Aims & Methods: Supporting pioneering inter- and transdisciplinary research at seven Swiss universities in collaboration with industry and policy stakeholders, we aim to investigate the quality, production, safety and therapeutic potential of different cannabis/cannabinoid medicines, their precise molecular and pharmacological mechanisms of action in vitro, in mouse models (WP1) and in humans (WP2). Translating basic research findings to humans, the NCCR CANHEALTH connects clinical expertise on cannabis use disorders (CUD) (WP3), safety and therapeutic efficacy of cannabis/cannabinoid medicines (WP4). Phase 1 includes pilot studies and randomized clinical trials including cannabinol (CBN) as single substance and cannabis tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) cannabis strains by addressing age, gender, and genetic predispositions, studying therapeutic efficacy in palliative care, geriatric medicine, and stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders but also risks for psychosis and addiction (WPs 3-5). We aim to establish a leading molecular bioanalytical, pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic platform related to cannabis-derived drugs and endocannabinoid system (ECS) pharmacology leveraging evolving computational methods including machine-learning (AI) and bioinformatics. We will assess therapeutic efficacy and risks for cannabinoid-induced psychosis and effects on driving ability using clinical scoring systems and physiological measures, simulations, deep phenotyping, neurocomputational testing and neuroimaging, targeted metabolic profiling, proteomics, as well as epigenomics and transcriptomics methods. Expertise from public health, health economics and ethics (WP6) will be instrumental already in Phase 1, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable patient cohorts. Envisaged Results & Impact: The NCCR CANHEALTH will innovate personalized cannabis/cannabinoid-based medicines through pharmacologically targeted cannabis strain selection for indoor farming, GMP production and novel pharmaceutical formulations (WP5), promoting standardization and evidence-based medicine. We envisage breakthroughs in bioanalytical and biomedical methodologies related to age and genetic/epigenetic differences in biochemical stress-axes and the ECS in cannabis consumers and patients. International and interdisciplinary programs for open science, outreach, education, and equality in research will be established with instant knowledge and technology transfer. We expect that research outcomes will be robust, ethical, tangible, and instrumental to inform policymaking.