An Australian medical cannabis company is set to open a new º£½ÇÊÓƵ operation in Birmingham.
Sydney-based Cannim has struck a deal to launch in the University of Birmingham's new Precision Health Technologies Accelerator in Selly Oak.
This facility will be open later this year in the first building to be completed on the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, in Aston Webb Boulevard.
The estate is being constructed on the former Battery Park site by the university in partnership with property group Bruntwood.
Cannim was founded in 2017, curating products from a network of manufacturers and aiming to develop medicinal cannabis.
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The collaboration with the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator will focus on expanding the understanding of the endocannabinoid system which is a physiological system that helps maintain balance within the body.
Phytocannabinoids are compounds found in the cannabis plant which it is said have shown promise in treating a variety of conditions such as chronic pain, stress and sleep disorders.
Through their partnership, the accelerator and Cannim's Lumir Clinic will launch a series of observational clinical trials, initially focusing on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
These studies will lay the groundwork for future controlled trials aimed at further exploring the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis.
The research will also extend to women's health issues, such as menstrual cramps and menopause, as well as age-related conditions like Alzheimer's.
The partnership seeks to pioneer a so-called citizen science model, where patients provide feedback on how medicinal cannabis impacts their health and wellbeing.
This patient-led data will drive future clinical research in order to ensure medical cannabis treatments are developed with their experiences at the forefront.
Medicinal cannabis was legalised in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ in 2018 but remains a ‘specials' prescription treatment.
Cannim said that, despite this, there was still "a significant knowledge gap" within the medical community, with many doctors and patients unaware that medical cannabis is prescribable in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.
Stuart Marsh is the company's chief growth officer and a graduate of University of Birmingham.
He said: "We're thrilled to be collaborating with the accelerator and university to further explore the transformative potential of medicinal cannabis.
"By combining our scientific expertise with the university's cutting-edge research, we aim to improve patient outcomes and build a comprehensive understanding of how cannabis can best be used to treat a range of conditions."
Gino Martini, chief executive of the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator, added: "This partnership highlights the unique role of the university and the accelerator as leaders in medical research, bringing together academia and industry to address important gaps in knowledge about medicinal cannabis and its potential to improve lives.
"We are excited to push forward on this initiative, positioning Birmingham as a future research hub for medical cannabis and cannabinoid studies in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and beyond."
Precision Health Technologies Accelerator will be a business innovation and life sciences research facility, providing approximately 70,000 sq ft of lab, incubation and collaboration space over three floors of No.1 Birmingham Health Innovation Campus.
Cannim's current º£½ÇÊÓƵ base in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, will close once the team has moved to Birmingham.
