Summary – Team Grant: Cannabis Research in Priority Areas Virtual Progress Workshop
Background
On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act came into force in Canada, legalizing non-medical cannabis products. However, many uncertainties still exist regarding the use of cannabis, its health and safety effects, and the behavioural, social, cultural, ethical and economic impacts of legalization. To address these knowledge gaps, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (CIHR-INMHA) partnered with five other CIHR Institutes to launch the Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy (ICRS).
A central component of the ICRS is the Team Grant: Cannabis Research in Priority Areas (CRPA) funding opportunity. This five-year funding opportunity supports 14 projects to explore the potential therapeutic benefits and harms associated with cannabis use in several targeted areas. In total, $19.5 million has been invested into this project, supported by six CIHR Institutes in partnership with the Arthritis Society of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).
Event Description
On November 18 and 21, 2022, CIHR hosted a knowledge exchange workshop for the 14 projects funded through the CRPA program. Research teams presented interim findings from their projects in key areas, including cancer, cardiovascular/respiratory and sleep health, neurodevelopment, Indigenous Peoples’ health, musculoskeletal and arthritis pain management, mental health, multiple sclerosis, and Veterans’ health. This research is a critical addition to the evidence base essential to informing decisions on cannabis use and policy.
The early research findings were shared alongside the perspectives and expertise of people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) and knowledge users — providing a comprehensive view of the topic and enhancing the potential impact of the findings.
Researchers, policy and health care decision makers, PWLLE, partners and other knowledge users participated in the workshop.
Meeting Chair
Nina Cluny, Assistant Director, CIHR-INMHA
Elder Opening and Closing
Senator Parm Burgie, Métis Nation of Ontario Ottawa Region Métis Council
Moderators
- Mary Bartram, Policy Director, Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Pamela Kanellis, Assistant Vice-president of Research, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
- Amy Porath, Director of Research and Knowledge Mobilization, Knowledge Institute on Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Projects and Presenters
Cannabis-based precision medicine for osteoarthritis therapy
Presenters: Timothy Leroux, University of Toronto and Jason Rockel, University Health Network
Nominated Principal Investigator: Hance Clarke, University Health Network
Canadian Cannabis and Psychosis Research Team (CCPRT)
Presenters: Patricia Conrod, Université de Montréal (Nominated Principal Investigator), Cecilia Flores, McGill University, and Jeremy Watts, Université de Montréal
Pan-Canadian network to investigate cannabis use in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children
Presenter: Daniel J. Corsi, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Medical cannabis for chronic pain: An evidence based clinical practice guideline
Presenter: Andrea Darzi, McMaster University
Nominated Principal Investigator: Jason W. Busse, McMaster University
A prospective translational model of the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol in reducing acute pain symptoms and opioid usage following traumatic injury
Presenter: Louis De Beaumont, Université de Montréal (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Efficacy of cannabinoids for symptom relief in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS): A randomized controlled trial
Presenter: Pierre Duquette, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Maternal-infant dyad health outcomes: Infant neurodevelopment, respiratory illnesses, dyad sleep patterns, and maternal mental health in the context of pre-and post-natal maternal cannabis use - A prospective cohort study
Presenter: Matthew S. Hicks, University of Alberta (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Adolescent cannabis exposure, brain development and cognitive-emotional outcomes: Influence of life stress
Presenter: Matthew N. Hill, University of Calgary (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Cannabis for symptom management in children with cancer: a demonstration project by the Canadian Childhood Cannabinoid Clinical Trials (C4T) platform
Presenter: Lauren Kelly, University of Manitoba (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Impact of cannabis use on Indigenous peoples' oral health
Presenter: Herenia P. Lawrence, University of Toronto (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Canadian Users of Cannabis Smoke Study (CANUCKs): Impact on lung health via clinical, imaging, and biologic measures
Presenters: Janice Leung, University of British Columbia (Nominated Principal Investigator) and Rachel Eddy (University of British Columbia)
Systematic preclinical evaluation of cannabinoid components on sleep and breathing
Presenter: Silvia Pagliardini, University of Alberta (Nominated Principal Investigator)
The impact of cannabis legalization on the forensic mental health patient population in Ontario
Presenter: Stephanie R. Penney, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (Nominated Principal Investigator)
Pharmacotherapeutic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Presenters: Argel Aguilar Valles, Carleton University, Ilse Gantois, McGill University, and Gabriella Gobb, McGill University
Nominated Principal Investigator: Nahum Sonenberg, McGill University
Panelists
Ashleigh Brown, SheCann Cannabis
Marie-Joëlle Doré-Bergeron, CHU Sainte-Justine
Sandra Gosling, Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
James MacKillop, McMaster University
Gabrielle Pagé, Université de Montréal
Andrew Pipe, University of Ottawa Heart Institute
For More Information
A Knowledge Exchange Summary and the meeting book from the workshop are available to the public upon request. Requests can be directed to the CIHR Contact Centre: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.
Visit CIHR’s Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy for more information.
Visit CIHR's Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction or email INMHA-INSMT@cihr-irsc.gc.ca for more information.
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