Our Cannabis Research Team

Justin Sinclair

AMCREC Lead Coordinator; Research Fellow

Medicinal cannabis expert and pharmacognosist

Biography

Justin Sinclair MHMed (USyd) is a Research Fellow and one of Australia’s foremost experts in medicinal cannabis. Justin has published on the topics of pain management, the endocannabinoid system, herb/drug interactions and the therapeutic applications of the Cannabis genus. He is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and the International Cannabinoid Research Society and has spent the last decade investigating medicinal cannabis use both in Australia and the USA. Working in education since 2003, Justin has taught across a wide variety of subjects encompassing medical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, integrated pharmacology and clinical pathology to plant specific sciences such as pharmacognosy / phytochemistry, herbal manufacturing and medicinal botany. He has also worked as a research and development consultant to the educational and healthcare industries since 2006.

Jerome Sarris

Professor of Integrative Mental Health

Expert in psychotropic plant medicines, genomics and clinical trials

Biography

Professor Sarris holds an NHMRC Clinical Research Fellowship, in addition to an honorary position at the University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry as a Principal Research Fellow. He is a human clinical trials specialist and has a particular interest in anxiety and mood disorder research pertaining to integrative medicine, nutraceutical psychopharmacology and psychotropic plant medicines (including cannabis), and lifestyle medicine. His research also utilises genomic technology to examine the pharmacogenomics of individual responses to nutraceuticals in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Professor Sarris has over 130 publications and has published in many eminent journals in the field including JAMA Psychiatry, The American Journal of Psychiatry, Lancet Psychiatry, and World Psychiatry. Prof Sarris has led a number of RCTs including 3 recent NHMRC-funded multicentre clinical trials of natural products for mental health disorders.

Tim Karl

Associate Professor, Behavioural Neuroscience

Expert in medicinal cannabis psychiatric disorder in vivo models

Biography

Associate Professor Tim Karl is a Behavioural Neuroscientist, having a distinguished track record for in vivo model research of cannabinoids. His expertise in neuropsychiatry has produced several landmark novel research studies on the therapeutic effects of cannabis constituents in psychiatric in vivo models, in particular for Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Having graduated from Leipniz University of Hanover (Germany), Tim has built a recognised laboratory, his research focusing on the gene-environment interactions in animal models for brain disorders. Assoc. Prof Karl has attracted research funding for his work from organisations such as the NHMRC, the Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation, and the German Research Foundation.

Andrew Shalliker

Professor of Analytical Chemistry

Expert in HPLC and cannabinoid seperation analysis

Biography

Andrew Shalliker is Professor of Analytical Chemistry and the Deputy Director of a prominent Australian Centre for Separation Science Research. Professor Shalliker research group explores and develops column technology, stationary phase design and the separation of complex samples using multidimensional approaches. Prof. Shalliker has extensive experience in screening, analysis and separation of compounds from whole plant sources, including cannabis. He has significant education and training globally, culminating in a DSc qualification from Deakin University. Prof Shalliker has over 130 publications and a distinquished preclinical studies portfolio.

Kamali Kannangara

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Nanotechnology

Expert in cannabinoid synthesis and spectroscopy

Biography

Associate Professor Kamali Kannangara leads a prominent Functional Nanomaterials Research Team. She has expertise in the synthesis of organic/metallorganic compounds and nanomaterials, including multi-step synthesis of cannabinoid metabolites and analogues and the use of spectroscopic techniques for the elucidation of molecular structure. Assoc. Prof Kannangara has over 60 publications and has received significant research funding from competitive grant schemes.

Chris Cazzonelli

Chris Cazzonelli is a Senior Fellow and Senior Lecturer of Plant Molecular Biology. Dr Cazzonelli has established and leads the Environmental Epigenetics Laboratory focused on research of the epigenetic mechanisms of medicinal plant metabolism regulation. He has a strong interest in medicinal cannabis and is well-placed to apply his skillset to evolve the understanding of cannabis and how optimal medicinal cultivars can be developed. Dr Cazzonelli completed his BSc and PhD at UQ,, being awarded the prestigious Goldacre Medal in 2010.

Maggie Davidson

Lecturer of Environmental Health and Management

Expert in assessment of occupational exposure to biological hazards

Biography

Dr Maggie Davidson is a practicing occupational hygienist, lecturer in Environmental Health and Management, and an adjunct researcher in the field of occupational hygiene with Edith Cowan University. Maggie has expertise in the sampling, characterisation and analysis of bioaerosols in occupational environments, and is currently leading a research project investigating worker exposure to inhalable bioaersols in cannabis-based industries for the development of best practice guidelines to promote worker health and wellbeing. Dr Davidson is a member of the American Society of Microbiologists and the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists.

Dr Sue Sisely, MD

Arizona-based physician practicing Internal Medicine and Psychiatry.

Sue serves as Site Principal Investigator for the only FDA-approved randomized controlled trial in the world examining safety/efficacy of whole plant marijuana in combat veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD.

Scottsdale Research Institute

Dr. Jeffrey Hergenrather, MD

Dr. Jeffrey Hergenrather is a general practitioner specializing in Cannabis/Cannabinoid medicine since 1999.

He is a founding member and current president of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, a non-profit corporation dedicated to quality patient care, educational programs, and clinical studies.

Dr. Jeffrey’s website

Prof. Oded Shoseyov

Prof. Shoseyov researches nanobiotechnology, protein engineering, and plant molecular biology. Developing super-performing materials and applications, all based on solutions inspired by nature. Oded has published more than 160 scientific papers and is the inventor or co-inventor of 45 patents.

Oded Shoseyov lab

Dr. Judith Lacey, MD

Dr Judith Lacey is the Head of Supportive Care and director of Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology at Chris O’Brien Life house.

Her research interests and activities are in the field of integrative oncology, medicinal cannabis, and supportive care service development.

Lifehouse team page

Prof. Simon Eckermann

Simon Eckermann is Senior Professor of Health Economics at the Australian Health Services Research Institute, Sydney Business School and the University of Wollongong. His work synthesises comprehensive public health policy evidence and health economic analysis for optimising Medicinal Cannabis health, economic and environmental impacts, focusing on palliative care, from cultivation to provision.

Prof. Simon Eckermann (UIC)

Dr. Graham Gulbransen

Dr Graham Gulbransen is the first NZ doctor to prescribe the standardised cannabis product Tilray CBD25. Graham is an experienced medically trained Cannabis Consultant, General Practitioner and Addiction Specialist. He was Senior Medical Officer at the Auckland Community Alcohol and Drugs Services (CADS) between 1996 – 2012 and has a Fellowship of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine.

Dr. Gulbransen’s website

Dr. Genevieve Steiner

Dr Genevieve Steiner’s research spans the early detection, prevention, and treatment of cognitive decline in older age, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Dr Steiner uses neuroimaging and physiological research methods to discover biomarkers and test new treatment strategies for cognitive decline, including cannabinoids. She is leading the world’s first clinical trial evaluating the effect of cannabidiol on cognition in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Steiner’s website