The Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority recently held its first BAJCAN Cannabis Medical Conference & Expo on October 11th & 12th, 2024 which included a segment on the cannabinoid research being conducted by postgraduate students at the University in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. At the conference Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean of FMS highlighted that UWI has obtained a Research & Development License in addition to an Import/Export License which are integral in the University’s ability to advance cannabinoid research. Postgraduate students in Pharmacology Mr. Ryan Hall and Ms. Deidre Shepherd presented their research projects.
Ryan Hall’s work investigated the cross-signalling pathways between muscarinic receptors and cannabinoid receptors in epilepsy. The work was conducted using a recombinant cell model of temporal epilepsy using CHO cells transfected with various cannabinoid receptors and muscarinic receptor 1 (M1).
The activity of the receptors was measured using IP1 and pERK assay accumulation tests.
Notably co-expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and M1 receptor in this model showed a reduction in activity of the M1 receptor when activated with a muscarinic agonist. This reduction was not observed when the other cannabinoid receptors such as GPR55 and Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) were co-expressed. These findings while preliminary further justify the use of Cannabis in managing epilepsy, particularly in patients for whom traditional medications are ineffective.
Deidre Shepherd’s work investigates the use of cannabinoid receptor ligands to upregulate biomarkers associated with endothelial function such as nitric oxide and other cellular signalling pathways that can influence this. The implications of this work can justify the use of cannabinoids in managing endothelial dysfunction and by extension hypertension and atherosclerotic disease.
Link to article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39015608/
Email Contact details:
damian.cohall@cavehill.uwi.edu
ryan.hall2@mycavehill.uwi.edu
deidre.shepherd@mycavehill.uwi.edu
