Dr. Ziva Cooper, Director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, will join our Patient and Family Webinar Series to talk about the history of cannabis and what has been established with respect to cannabis and cancer. Dr. Cooper will discuss the origins of cannabis, its various cannabinoid components, current research and an exciting new study that may help cancer patients.
Dr. Cooper will spotlight a new study on the pain relief and appetite stimulating effects of cannabigerol (CBG), a minor cannabinoid that seems to lack the psychoactive side effects of THC. This research could provide a new tool to help manage the side effects of cancer treatment, such as loss of appetite and pain. The study will investigate whether CBG, alone or in synergistic combination with low doses of THC, can provide analgesic (pain relief) and appetite-stimulating properties in humans. It is particularly exciting as this will be the first study of CBG in humans.
Please join us for an hour of interesting conversation with Dr. Ziva Cooper on Friday, February 26th, 2021 at 1pm (PST). The presentation will be followed by a Q & A and our new Survivor Chat. During this time of isolation we continue to do what we can to bring our pancreatic cancer community together. Our Survivor Chat, is a space for patients and loved ones to have an opportunity to spend time talking amongst each other once the webinar is over. Share stories, information and ask questions of your fellow participants from the comfort of your living room!
As the Director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, Dr. Cooper strives to incorporate a translational approach to understating both the potential therapeutic and adverse effects associated with cannabis and cannabinoids. Dr. Cooper is also Associate Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at David Geffen School of Medicine. Her current research involves understanding variables that influence both the therapeutic potential and adverse effects of cannabis and cannabinoids.
More about UCLA’s Cannabis Research Initiative:
The UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative (CRI) is a strategic initiative out of the UCLA Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. As one of the first university programs focused on the multidisciplinary study of cannabis, they aim to bring together experts from diverse fields to advance the understanding the plant’s impact on body, brain, and society. Despite unprecedented access, nearly a century of research restrictions and funding barriers have contributed to a lack of scientific knowledge about cannabis and hemp, particularly in regards to the therapeutic potential and the industrial applications. Their mission is to address the most pressing questions related to the impact of cannabis legalization through rigorous scientific study and discourse across disciplines.