CANNABIS
MEDICAL
24 MEDICAL CANNABIS
Dr. Adam is an analytical chemist with over 20 years of experience in the natural products and biomedical research fields. His graduate work in analytical and medicinal chemistry focused on anti-cancer natural product discovery by isolating novel, terpene-derived chemical compounds with bioactive properties. This training provided extensive expertise in analytical chemistry and small-molecule characterization, including mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS, GC/MS), chromatography (HPLC, TLC), and many other techniques.
Dr. Richardson received post-doctoral training
in cellular biology at NCI-Designated Cancer Center at SBP Medical Discovery Institute (La Jolla). Here he applied his analytical chemistry skill set to analyzing metabolic pathways
in cancer, including fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Dr. Richardson then established his own research laboratory at SPB, focusing on the role of mitochondria and the TCA cycle in tumor development. During this time, Dr. Richardson also founded
and established the Cancer Metabolism Shared Resource
within the NCI-Designated Cancer Center at SBP. Now
Dr. Richardson brings his passion for natural product therapeutics and expertise in biomedical research to
AEGIS to help develop cannabis-based products for
cancer, epilepsy, and other diseases.
Dr.
Adam
D. Richardson
Adam D. Richardson, Chief Scientific Officer
Aegis Biotech | [email protected]
Dr. Adam is an analytical chemist with over 20 years of experience in the natural products and biomedical research fields. He brings his passion for natural product therapeutics and expertise in biomedical research to AEGIS to help develop cannabis-based products for cancer, epilepsy, and other diseases.
The tails of the receptor that extend on both the exterior and interior of the cell are a different story however. These amino acid sequences vary greatly, even between the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The sequence of the exterior tail creates specificity for the ligands – chemicals, proteins and other molecules – to control certain receptors. On the other hand, the interior sequence determines which pathways and systems are controlled by ligand binding.
As I discussed last issue, there are both endogenous cannabinoids that our body produces and exogenous cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. These compounds bind differently and in different ratios to each receptor, and vary between tissues as well. In addition, there is a growing theory that the entourage effect is created at least in part by the various cannabis terpenes binding to the CB1 and CB2 receptors as well. The interplay between these various ligands produces a variety of receptor states. By understanding how certain states can improve disease treatment, we can match the right combination of chemistry for each condition and individual.
What happens within cells – both generally and for specific cell types – is much, much less understood. Biomedical science has masterful understanding of many classes of important GPCR receptors. The huge advances in genetics, and subsequently molecular biology, of the last 40 years have shown to be capable of the critical experiments needed on the cannabinoid signaling system. But, as in so many areas of cannabis development, this research has been stifled if not fully prohibited within the United States. The loosening of federal regulations coupled with investments from both states and individuals have finally created an environment where this critical research step can occur.
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