Carolina Cannabinoid Collaborative

Dr. Aron Lichtman is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the School of Medicine at VCU. His research program focuses on four general areas: 1) understanding the physiological function of the endocannabinoid system; 2) elucidating the mechanisms of action underlying the pharmacological effects of THC and other cannabinoids; 3) investigating medicinal uses of cannabinoids and 4) determining the impact of the drugs of abuse via the inhalation route of administration. Much of this research employs a multidisciplinary approach using a combination of behavioral/physiological measures, pharmacological agents, genetically altered mice and quantification of drug, as well as endogenous compounds in body and brain. His work taken together may ultimately contribute to the development of endocannabinoid/FAAH-based therapeutic agents for the treatment of pain, cognitive disorders and drug addiction. ([email protected])

Dr. Michelle Peace is a forensic toxicologist and Professor in the Department of Forensic Science in the College of Humanities and Sciences at VCU. She directs the Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology Research and has been funded by the National Institute of Justice to study the efficacy of electronic cigarettes, particularly as they pertain to substance use and abuse. Her research has highlighted emerging issues of electronic cigarettes as a tool for vaping drugs other than nicotine. Her current projects are a clinical study to assess the impact of vaping on roadside impairment evaluations for suspected DUI and to evaluate emerging synthetic cannabinoid analogs in unregulated cannabis marketplaces. Her research group is evaluating the analytical challenges of THC analogs and determining appropriate biomarkers to be used in suspected impairment and poisoning cases. She is also funded by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth to analyze vaping products confiscated and collected on school properties across Virginia. Her research has informed policy and legislation nationwide as the e-cigarette and cannabis industries have evolved. ([email protected])

Dr. Alaina Holt is a forensic toxicologist and Research Faculty in the Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology Research in the Department of Forensic Science at VCU. She studies the use of electronic cigarettes to vape drugs other than nicotine. She develops instrumental methods on LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and headspace GC-FID to assess products for chemicals and pharmacologically active compounds. Her current work is to develop testing strategies for emerging synthetic and semi-synthetic cannabinoids and characterize vaping products confiscated in Virginia school systems. Dr. Holt’s interests include emerging toxicology issues, providing support for science-based legislation, regulation, and policies, and educating the public and key stakeholders about research findings that impact public health and safety. She is the recipient of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Toxicology Section June K. Jones Award and the Impact in Toxicology Award for her manuscript The Impact of Vaping Ethanol-Containing E-cigarette Liquids on Roadside Impairment Investigations in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. ([email protected])

Lauren Moncayo is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at VCU. Her primary research areas include: 1) neuro-immune and neuro-inflammatory mechanisms contributing to the development of chronic pain, 2) mechanisms of action underlying the pharmacological effects of non-opioid based therapeutics for chronic pain, and 3) the cyclical relationship between drug abuse and chronic pain. Her current thesis work investigates the impact of chronic alcohol use on the endocannabinoid system and endocannabinoid-mediated mechanisms underlying the development and reversal of alcohol-induced peripheral neuropathy. Lauren’s passions include promoting diversity and inclusion across all facets of STEM research careers: mentorship (undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral), academic research, non-academic research (i.e., industry and government), and under-represented/non-traditional career paths (i.e., law, business and biotechnology). She is the recipient of the VCU Phi Kappa Phi Susan E. Kennedy Scholarship and the Naudia Chaudhri Rising Scholar Award from the Research Society on Alcohol. ([email protected])

Mohammed Mustafa is a PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at VCU.  He is Lab Manager and oversees the logistics and operations for Dr. Lichtman’s research lab while also working toward his degree. His research interests have focused on CB1 receptor allosteric modulation in various behavioral models of pain, drug dependence and abuse liability. Also his work has helped determine whether the effects of newly synthesized CB1 receptor allosteric modulators translate to the whole animal. Mustafa first became interested in the endocannabinoid system when he was an undergraduate student at VCU and began volunteering in the lab. His thesis work currently focuses on modulating the endocannabinoid system to identify treatments for chemotherapy-related pain. ([email protected])