Research

Cannabis containing equivalent concentrations of CBD and THC appears no less impairing than THC-dominant cannabis, and in some circumstances, CBD may actually exacerbate THC-induced impairment.

What is this study?

We are conducting a study to assess the safety and efficacy of our standardised CBD-rich medicinal cannabis in managing chronic conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety disorders, autism, PTSD, insomnia and epilepsy, that haven’t responded well to standard treatment options.

Who can participate?

People who are prescribed Bod medicinal cannabis, with the approval of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and meet the eligibility criteria will be able to participate in this study.

How can I participate?

The study is being conducted through numerous medical clinics with doctors who are experts in cannabis medicines. Contact one of the clinics and ask about the Bod observational study to being assessing eligibility. A list of approved clinics can be found here 

What does participation involve?

Participation in the study involves periodically completing online questionnaires on health outcomes and response to the cannabis medication using the study app or website for the duration of the study (up to 12 months).

Patients who participate will receive their first two bottles of medicine that are prescribed as complementary, and the medicines prescribed for the remainder of the study (up to 12 months) will be discounted. Pharmacy dispensing costs (typically no more than $30) and clinic consultation fees apply.

Click here for more information and an online referral form.

Are you interested in trialling medicinal cannabis?

Conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney, the QUality of life Evaluation STudy (QUEST Initiative) will be investigating the quality of life and health economic impact of prescribed medicinal cannabis on Australians with chronic disease over 12 months. The study is open to Australians with a range of conditions including chronic pain, cancer pain, neuropathic pain, insomnia, anxiety, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.

You cannot participate if you are currently receiving medicinal cannabis treatment.

To learn more about the study, go to: https://www.thequestinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/201202_QUEST_ParticpantInfoStatement.pdf

To find out if you are eligible, Click Here

Recruitment ends 31 March 2022.

Cannabinoid Medicine Observational Study (CMOS)

Applied Cannabis Research (ACR), is commencing Australia’s largest observational study ever undertaken for medical cannabis.

The Cannabinoid Medicine Observational Study (CMOS)  will collect data from 20,000 patients nationwide to assess the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis products for a range of difficult to manage conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndromes, epilepsy and other neurological conditions, PTSD and other mental illness.

CMOS provides a first-of-its-kind opportunity to capture data from a broader range of Australian prescribers and patients than in existing studies. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has now approved over 67,000 applications for medical cannabis. With a lack of randomised clinical trials within the space, there is an urgent need for large-scale evidence-based studies of prescribing medicinal cannabis. Feedback on treatment-related progress, dosing and side-effects is becoming increasingly relevant.

Key Highlights:

• CMOS aims to recruit 20,000 patients nationwide over 5 years
• Some subsidised medicinal cannabis products may be available for study participants
• Data is collected through progress-related questionnaires over a 12-month period, capturing data on efficacy, side effects, dosage, adherence to medication, changes to other concomitant medications and progressing health status
• Patients may be asked to complete separate surveys according to relevant indications to monitor conditions such as pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disorders, and physical function
• Data is collected from both treating doctors and their patients to provide a complete view of their medical cannabis treatment journey
• Patients are only identified by a unique study ID number

The CMOS study is open to both doctors and patients to get involved and can register their interest through either Patient or Doctor tab on the bottom of the page found here

People with epilepsy can register themselves into this study and do not need their treating doctor to register them.

This study will monitor several safety and health-related measures of patients engaged in medicinal cannabis treatment at Cannabis Access Clinics. This will help us gain a better understanding of the role of medicinal cannabis in treating various health conditions including epilepsy and help shape future clinical trials.

Recruitment: Open

Study: CANSLEEP Research Study

Research Collaborators: The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney

About the Study: To assess the effects of a single dose of an oral cannabinoid medicine on sleep and next-day function relative to placebo in patients with chronic insomnia disorder. If eligible, participants need to attend the Woodcock Institute of Medical Research in Glebe, Sydney.

To get involved in the trial, check your suitability on the CANSLEEP Study website.

For more information, please contact the trial coordinator, Anastasia via email cansleep@woolcock.org.au or call 0439 804 551.

Recruitment: Open for Health Care Professionals and Patient Survey

Study: Australia Medicinal Cannabis Study

Research Collaborators:

• Victorian Office of Medicinal Cannabis, Department of Health and Human Services
• University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine
• University of Sydney, Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney,

About the Study: The surveys collect information focusing on the patterns of use, effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis products prescribed in Australia. The results of this study will be made available to researchers for further analysis and provide much needed information to guide policy decisions relating to medicinal cannabis in Australia.

The Australian Medicinal Cannabis Study began in late 2018 and will recruit participants over a 3 year period, with final surveys completed 15 months later.

For more information Click Here

Publication: Pending

Recruitment: Enrolments commenced early 2019 and no longer recruiting.

Study: Rett Syndrome Clinical Trial

Research Collaborators: Sydney Children’s Hospital Network

About the Study: Aims to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of a new cannabis medicine called Cannabidivarin (CBDV).

Publication: Pending

Recruitment: Closed

Study: Knowledge and attitudes of Australian general practitioners towards medicinal cannabis.

Research Collaborators: The Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney and HealthEd.

Chief Investigators: Professor Iain McGregor (Lambert Initiative, University of Sydney)

Completed: 2018

About the Study: A cross-sectional survey completed by 640 Australian General Practioners attending multiple-topic educational seminars in five major Australian cities between August and November 2017 was undertaken to assess the knowledge and attitudes of these clinicians toward medicinal cannabis.

Results: The majority of GPs (61.5%) reported one or more patient enquiries about medicinal cannabis in the past three months. Most felt that their own knowledge was inadequate and only 28.8% felt comfortable discussing medicinal cannabis with patients. Over half (56.5%) supported availability on prescription, with the preferred access model involving trained GPs prescribing independently of specialists. Support for use of medical cannabis was condition-specific, with strong support for use in cancer pain, palliative care and epilepsy, and much lower support for use in depression and anxiety.

Publication: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/7/e022101

Recruitment: Closed

Study: Cannabis as Medicine Survey (CAMS16)

Research Collaborators: The Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney and South East Sydney Local Health District.

Chief Investigators: Professor Nick Lintzeris (South East Sydney Local Health District)

Completed: 2018

About the Study: The CAMS (Cannabis As Medicine Survey) is the first large scale survey of medicinal cannabis users in Australia for more than a decade. The objective of this survey is to create a national snapshot of the demographics of medical cannabis consumers, the conditions being treated, patterns of cannabis use, perceived efficacy, and the physical and mental health of consumers. In 2016, the CAMS study surveyed 1,749 Australians who reported using cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Results: Results indicated that the primary conditions being treated included anxiety (50.2%), back pain (49.4%), depression (48.8%), and sleep conditions (43%). Inhaled route was the most common routes of administration. A third of patients spent $0-$50 on cannabis, suggesting a sizeable proportion of home grown supply. Respondents self-reported overwhelmingly positive changes in the primary health condition being treated as a result of cannabis use, with more than 90 percent of respondents reporting an improvement.

Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.5694/mja17.01247