Presentations and Outreach

• “Gain-of-function GABRB3 variants identified in vigabatrin-hypersensitive epileptic encephalopathies” – Dr Nathan Absalom presents the video abstract for his publication that helps explains why the anti-epileptic medication vigabatrin has mixed success in treating seizures in patients with GABRB3 variants, BRAIN Journals, 19 November 2020

• “Pharmacological validation of endocannabinoid system deficits observed in the Scn1a^+/- mouse model of Dravet Syndrome” – Dr Lyndsey Anderson presented at the Epilepsy Society of Australia 2020 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting, 5 November 2020

• “Cannabis and Driving" – Dr Tom Arkell joined a panel of expert to discuss his research on cannabis and driving in a webinar hosted by Health House, 21 October 2020

• “Medicinal cannabis in Australia: Weeding out the facts” – Professor Iain McGregor and Richard di Natale delivered the 2020 Koadlow Lecture online on 06 October 2020, hosted by Musculoskeletal Australia. They discuss the use of medicinal cannabis in Australia – what it is, available forms, access issues in Australia and the current evidence for use.

• “Cannabis-based medicines: current use and future promise” – Professor Iain McGregor presented the University of Sydney, School of Psychology’s Colloquium online on 11 September 2020.
• “Preclinical development of cannabis-derived therapies for Dravet Syndrome” – Associate Professor Jonathon Arnold presented at the NICM HRI Medicinal Cannabis Research Update 2020 online on 3 September 2020.
• “Clinical research update from the Lambert Initiative 2020” – Professor Iain McGregor presented at the NICM HRI Medicinal Cannabis Research Update 2020 online on 3 September 2020.

• “Cannabidiol (CBD) reduced the negative affective and somatic symptoms of opioid withdrawal” – PhD candidate Rhianne Scicluna presented her research at the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS) meeting online on 3 August 2020. 

• “Cannabis and driving” – PhD candidate Thomas Arkell discussed his research on cannabis and driving during “Australian Medicinal Cannabis Research” a webinar hosted by Health House on 22 July 2020.
•  “Emerging treatments clinical update: Cannabis-based medicines as novel interventions for psychiatric disorder” – Prof Iain McGregor presented as part of an Education E-session for RANZCP members on 8 July 2020.

• “Clinical Use of Cannabinoids: Potential Promises and Pitfalls” – Prof Iain McGregor presented at The College on Problems of Drug Dependence Annual Scientific Meeting on 23 June 2020
• “Coadministered cannabidiol and clobazam: Preclinical evidence for both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions” – Dr Lyndsey Anderson presented at the ILAE Journals Virtual Prize Symposium on 17 June 2020.

“Clinical Research Activities at the Lambert Initiative” – Professor McGregor gave this invited presentation at the ACannabis Conference (held by the MCIA – Medicinal Cannabis Industry Association of Australia) in Sydney on 3 March 2020.

“Cannabidiol, the big picture pharmacology” – Professor McGregor gave this invited talk at the Queensland Children’s Hospital Symposium into Childhood Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Queensland on 6 February 2020.

• “Medicinal Cannabis and the Criminal Law: the Intersection” – Professor McGregor gave this invited presentation at the Legalwise Annual Criminal Law Symposium in Sydney, on 21 November 2019.

• “Predictive modelling of cannabinoid-protein interactions interactions with machine learning and molecular dynamics” – Dr Lewis Martin gave this invited talk at the Brain and Mind Centre Symposium in Sydney on 22 November 2019.

• "Meds for Heads, an introduction to Psychopharmacology for Health Professionals" - Professor McGregor gave this invited talk at the Ted Noffs Foundation in Sydney on 22 November 2019.

• “An introduction to the endocannabinoid system - how sleep fits in” – Professor Iain McGregor presented at Sleep Down Under 2019 in Sydney on 17October 2019.
• “Cannabis use patterns for sleep disorders in Australia: A subanalysis of an online cross-sectional survey” – Anastasia Suraev presented at Sleep Down Under 2019 in Sydney on 19 October 2019.
• “Cannabidiol for sports performance? A narrative review of clinical evidence and future recommendations” – Dr Danielle McCartney gave this talk at the Annual Conference of Sports Dieticians Australia on October 19, 2019.
• “Medicinal Cannabis, uses in clinical theory and practice” – Professor McGregor gave an invited presentation at this special doctor and public education event held by United in Compassion (and others) at the Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane on 24 October 2019.
• “How to initiate and maintain successful collaborations” – Dr Melissa Benson was an invited panellist at the 9th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Biological Psychiatry Australia, hosted at the Florey Institute in Melbourne, on 29 October 2019.

• “Cannabis, the cannabinoids and pain” – Associate Professor Arnold gave a keynote presentation at the 2^nd Canada Australia and New Zealand (CANZ) Combined Spine Society Meeting in Queenstown, New Zealand on 7 September 2019.

• “Cannabinoid-based drug development targeting GPR55” – Dr Marika Heblinski was an invited speaker at The Sydney Symposium on Cell Biology, Cancer, Immunology and Drug Discovery, on 6 August 2019.

• “Medicinal Cannabis: From Criminal to Clinical” – PhD Candidate Dilara Bahceci presented this talk at Blacktown Library as part of the Sydney Science Festival in National Science Week on 7 August 2019.

• “Life as a Medicinal Cannabis Researcher” – Dilara Bahceci appeared on the popular youth radio network, 2SER, to expand further on her recent talk. Aired 20 August 2019.

• “Life vs Science Podcast: In Situ Science Live” – Dr Sam Banister appeared for this live podcast recording which was taken on 15 August 2019.

• “Medicinal Cannabis and Pain Management” – Professor Iain McGregor gave the keynote address at the ASCEND 2019 (Dermatology, Rheumatology and Gastroenterology) conference, Adelaide, August 2019.

• “Can Cannabinoid Medicines play a role in the Future Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases?” – Professor Iain McGregor gave the keynote address at the Raising Expectation in Immunology 2019 Meeting, Melbourne on 16-17 August 2019.

• “Medicinal Cannabis in Australia: Current status and future potential” – Professor Iain McGregor delivered this presentation and webinar to the Australian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Sydney, on 28 August 2019.

• “Searching for the Molecular Intersection of Phytocannabinoid Action and Endocannabinoid Dysregulation in Childhood Epilepsy” - Associate Professor Arnold gave an invited presentation at the prestigious Cannabinoid Function in the CNS Gordon Research Conference in Barcelona, Spain on 24 July 2019. Associate Professor Arnold reported the discovery of CBGA as a novel phytocannabinoid anticonvulsant to the international cannabinoid research community.

• “In memoriam: A tribute to the late Associate Professor David Allsop” – Professor Iain McGregor gave this invited talk to the annual symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, Bethesda, USA. On 2 July 2019.

• “Entourage or Chemical Instability: THCA and its varied anticonvulsant properties” – Dr Melissa Benson gave an invited presentation at the Gordon Research Seminar focused on Early Career Researchers in Barcelona, Spain on 20 July 2019.

• "A preclinical study exploring pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions between clobazam and cannabidiol in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome” - Dr Lyndsey Anderson gave an invited presentation at the Gordon Research Seminar in Barcelona on 21 July 2019.

• “Searching for the Molecular Intersection of Phytocannabinoid Action and Endocannabinoid Dysregulation in Childhood Epilepsy” - Associate Professor Jonathon Arnold gave an invited presentation at the prestigious Cannabinoid Function in the CNS Gordon Research Conference in Barcelona, Spain on 24 July 2019. Associate Professor Arnold reported the discovery of CBGA as a novel phytocannabinoid anticonvulsant to the international cannabinoid research community.

• “Harnessing the power of Cannabis for the treatment of childhood epilepsy” – Dr Marika Heblinksi gave an invited presentation for the UNSW Neuroscience Society in collaboration with UNSW Students for Sensible Drug Policy on 26 July 2019.

• “High as Mike” – Professor McGregor and Mat Henderson appeared on panel discussions on 27 May, 5 June and 8 August 2019.

• “Medicinal Cannabis in Australia: Current status and future potential” – Professor Iain McGregor gave the keynote address to the Health Beyond: Research and Innovation Showcase conference (SWSLHD), Warwick Farm, on 5 June 2019.

• “Cannabis: Pharmacological Profile” – Dr Samuel Banister presented a talk on the pharmacology of medicinal cannabis to an audience of nurses at the Cannabis - Weeding Out the Facts Conference in Sydney, a professional development meeting run by AusMed Education, on June 20, 2019.

• “Medicinal Cannabis for the Treatment of Pain and Anxiety” – Professor Iain McGregor gave this Invited talk and webinar for the Ausmed educational event Cannabis - Weeding out the Facts, Sydney, on 21 June 2019.

• “Translational studies of cannabidiol in addiction, anxiety and wakefulness” – Professor Iain McGregor gave this invited talk to the International Behavioural Neuroscience Society (IBNS) conference, Cairns, on 27 June 2019.

• “Medicinal Cannabis for psychiatric conditions and addictions: The current state of play in Australia” – Dr Melissa Benson gave a presentation to psychiatrists, government and researchers at the University of Melbourne Research Forum: Medicinal Cannabis and psychoactive plants for mental health and addiction in Melbourne on June 28, 2019.

• “Medicinal Cannabis for Pharmacists: a perspective from the Lambert Initiative” – Professor Iain McGregor gave an invited presentation at this Meditrax educational event for Pharmacists, in Sydney on 3 May 2019.

• “Unlocking the medicinal potential of cannabis in cancer” - Associate Professor Jonathon Arnold gave an invited keynote presentation at the 14^th International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research in Brisbane on 9 May 2019.

• “Beyond CBD:  The discovery of novel cannabis-based therapeutics for intractable childhood epilepsy” - Associate Professor Jonathon Arnold gave an invited keynote presentation at the Australian Society for Medical Research Annual Scientific meeting in Sydney on 31 May 2019.