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Clinical trials
Novel clinical research conducted by the Lambert Initiative’s clinical team and collaborators within Australia
Our clinical team, in collaboration with expert clinicians and researchers around Australia, are focused on developing clinical evidence for cannabinoid-based therapeutics and understanding Australian community use of medicinal cannabis in a range of disease areas.
Clinical Trials
Can cannabidiol (CBD) increase exercise enjoyment and enhance exercise tolerance?
Findings from a recent pilot study conducted by the Lambert Initiative suggest that CBD may increase feelings of pleasure during exercise and alter physiological processes (e.g., oxygen consumption) in such a way that improves exercise tolerance.
While these results suggest that CBD may have potential as an exercise aid for patient populations, further investigation is required to better understand its effects.
This randomised, double- blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial will investigate the effect of CBD on exercise tolerance in twenty-five healthy individuals. Endurance-trained male and female runners will be recruited for this initial investigation.
Participants will complete three research sessions involving a controlled bout of running exercise on a treadmill (60 min), a short (30 min) recovery, and an incremental run to volitional exhaustion.
This is a collaboration between The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapuetics and Griffith University.
Chief Investigator: Professor Paul Haber (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital)
Project Coordinator: Ayshe Sahinovic (The University of Sydney)
If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact Ayshe Sahinovic (ayshe.sahinovic@sydney.edu.au)
Investigating cannabinol (the ‘sleepy’ cannabinoid) for treatment of insomnia disorder
Emerging anecdotal and preclinical evidence suggests cannabinol (CBN), an oxidative by-product of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can improve sleep. However, CBN has never been examined in isolation as treatment for insomnia disorder.
The ‘CUPID’ study is a randomised, double-blinded, crossover study to investigate the effects of CBN on sleep architecture and next-day function in patients with insomnia disorder.
Participants with insomnia disorder will undergo four overnight sleep studies, across which they will receive a low and high dose of CBN, as well as a placebo.
This is a collaboration between Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics and the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.
Chief Investigator: Professor Brendon Yee and Dr Camilla Hoyos (Woolcock Institute of Medical Research)
Project Coordinator: Isobel Lavender (University of Sydney).
If you are interested in participating in this study, you can register your interest here.
For more information, please contact Isobel Lavender (isobel.lavender@sydney.edu.au).
Cannabidiol for chronic neuropathic pain caused by spinal cord injury
This research project will investigate the chronic pain that commonly occurs after spinal cord injury.
Using advanced brain imaging and other assessments, the project aims to:
(a) examine if 6-week treatment with CBD can reduce neuropathic pain
(b) to better understand the specific changes occurring in the brain after SCI that lead to the development of chronic neuropathic pain.
This is a collaboration between the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, the Brain and Mind Centre and the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney.
Chief Investigator: Professor Luke Henderson (Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney)
Research Team: Professor Iain McGregor (Lambert Initiative, University of Sydney), Dr Elizabeth Cairns (Lambert Initiative, University of Sydney), and Dr Sachin Shetty (Prince of Wales Hospital).
Trial Coordinator: Anastasia Suraev (Lambert Initiative, University of Sydney)
PhD students: Rebecca Robertson and Fernando Tinoco (Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney)
If you are interested in participating in this study, please call 0439 804 551 or email (scan_study@sydney.edu.au).
You can also register your interest via our online pre-screening survey: https://bit.ly/SCAN_study
We have a number of clinical trials that are yet to start recruiting. Check back soon for updates.
- MINI trial: CBD vs. THC/CBD in pediatric palliative care (A/Prof Anthony Herbert, QUT and Children’s Health Queensland)
- CAFTAN trial: High-dose CBD in Anorexia Nervosa (Sarah Rodan, Inside Out)
- CANARY trial: Low-dose CBD wafer in situational anxiety (Zeeta Bawa, Brain and Mind Centre)
- CANCLOZ trial: High-dose CBD in clozapine-resistant pyschosis (Prof Dan Siskind, Princess Alexandria Hospital, Brisbane)
Surveys
The Cannabis as Medicine survey (CAMS-22) confidentially surveys Australians who have used medical cannabis in the past 12 months and provides a snapshot of patterns of use, symptoms and conditions treated, methods of administration, where it is being sourced from, and effects on health and driving.
The CAMS22 survey will give us an important understanding of how medicinal cannabis use is evolving in the community as it becomes more mainstream. In order to better understand the impact and effects of medical cannabis, those using it need to be able to confidentially share their experiences, both legal and illegal.
Previous surveys have provided a wealth of data, particularly around the way medical cannabis is used. Illicit consumers are more likely to smoke cannabis, for example, compared to those with prescriptions who are more likely to use oral or vaporised cannabis.
This trial is being conducted by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney.
If you have used cannabis for medical purposes in the last 12 months, you can complete the survey here.
Chief Investigators: Prof Nicholas Lintzeris (University of Sydney), Prof Iain McGregor (Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapuetics)
Project Coordinator: Dr Llew Mills (Unversity of Sydney)
Cannabis use and cultivation in the Australian Capital Territory (CAN-ACT)
New cannabis laws came into effect in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2020, allowing residents to grow and possess small quantities of cannabis. These laws are unique within Australia and offer a unique opportunity to examine the outcomes of cannabis decriminalisation in a local community setting.
Our research team has designed an anonymous online survey to question legal artisanal cannabis users in the ACT around the details of their current medical and non-medical cannabis use.
Participants can provide a sample of their artisanal cannabis which will be analysed for cannabinoid (e.g., delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol levels) and contaminant (heavy metals, pesticides, and mycotoxins harmful to health) content, free of charge. Samples will be anonymously collected by the study courier and delivered to the University of Sydney Laboratories for analysis.
This trial is being conducted by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney.
Chief Investigator: Professor Iain McGregor (Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics)
Project Coordinator: Isobel Lavender (University of Sydney)
If you are an ACT resident and are interested in participating, you can complete the survey here.
For more information, please contact Isobel Lavender (isobel.lavender@sydney.edu.au).
Medication and other drugs for Eating Disorders
There are very few evidence-based pharmacological options for the treatment of eating disorders. Medications are commonly prescribed for co-morbidities but often have very little effect on treating eating disorder psychopathology.
This survey explores the types of psychiatric medications and other drugs used by individuals with a current eating disorder. This includes medicinal and illicit cannabis as well as other substances.
We aim to collect information on the types of psychiatric medications being prescribed to individuals but, importantly, to collect their own personal experiences on these medications and whether they think its effective, or not, for treating their eating disorder symptom and mental wellbeing.
We also want to explore the types of illicit drugs being used recreationally, the effect these drugs have on their symptoms, whether they are self-medicating, but also the extent of substance abuse.
We hope that this information will help to better understand efficacy of medication in individuals with eating disorder which may help to inform clinicians and future research.
The MED-FED Survey is being coordinated by Sarah-Catherine Rodan, a PhD student at the Lambert Initiative and is being overseen by Professor Iain McGregor and Associate Professor Sarah Maguire.
If you are interested in participating, you can complete the survey here. This survey is open internationally, so you are encouraged to share among your networks.
Chief Investigator: Professor Iain McGregor (Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics), A/Prof Sarah Maguire (InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders)
Project Coordinator: Sarah-Catherine Rodan (University of Sydney)
For more information, please contact Sarah-Catherine Rodan (sarah-catherine.rodan@sydney.edu.au).
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