The United Kingdom’s first publicly available cannabis research facility is launching this summer as MediPen Ltd. is opening an 1,800-square-foot facility which will provide a platform for individuals and companies to conduct their own medical cannabis research, the Independent reports.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved national CBD use in Oct. 2016 after studying the health benefits of MediPen’s CBD vaporizer.
MediPen is currently working to secure a license from the Home Office that would allow them to research controlled compounds in cannabis, namely THC, with regard to cancer patients with the goal of minimizing the negative effects of existing chemotherapy–based treatments, such as nausea and vomiting. The firm will also study whether the compounds suppress metastasis by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.
“As it stands there is a significant amount of scientific data available detailing the powerful effects of cannabinoids within cell culture systems and in vivo,” a MediPen representative said in the report. “However, we plan to be amongst the first in the world to begin clinical trials on humans.”
The company will encourage those who use their facilities to take advantage of their established research and development network, in-house testing laboratory, and its board for legal and business advice.