Researchers to test if cannabis ingredient can help COPD patients

I bet there's no shortage of volunteers!



http://www.imperial.ac.uk/P6787.htm

Researchers to test if cannabis ingredient can help COPD patients

For immediate release
Friday 2 September 2005

Researchers from Imperial College London are looking for volunteers to
test whether cannabinoids, the active ingredient of cannabis, can be used
to alleviate the sensation of breathlessness caused by illnesses such as
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The team are looking for volunteers aged between 50 and 70, who dont have
breathing difficulties.

Dr Elspeth Pickering Open, clinical research fellow, from Imperial College
London and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, says: "Despite the best
efforts of scientists for many years, no one has been able to develop a
way to deal with the sensation of breathlessness without suppressing the
drive to breathe. Breathlessness can have a major impact on the quality of
life for patients with respiratory diseases, and by using a cannabinoid,
we hope to find a way to block the mechanism which causes it."

The researchers believe the cannabinoids could be used to reduce the
sensation of breathlessness without depressing the respiratory system.

The study will take a morning on two different days, during which time
volunteers will be hooked up to a circuit to regulate and measure their
breathing. Carbon dioxide will be added to the air breathed by the
volunteers, causing the sensation of breathlessness. This is a safe method
of simulating breathlessness as the body naturally produces carbon
dioxide. Afterwards the volunteers will be given a spray which includes
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis, which
researchers hope will reduce the sensation of breathlessness.

Dr Anita Holdcroft from Imperial College London and Chelsea and
Westminster Hospital, and study leader, adds: "The special formulation of
the drug as a spray avoids the harmful effects of smoking cannabis. We
hope the drug will stop the sensation of breathlessness, potentially
providing a new way to deal with respiratory diseases."

The study will be conducted at Charing Cross Hospital in west London.
Volunteers will be paid for their time committed to the study. Volunteers
aged between 50 and 70 who dont have breathing difficulties and wish to
take part should call 020 8846 1234 ext. 7055 to register their interest.

For further information please contact:

Tony Stephenson
Press Officer
Communications Division
Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6712
Mobile: +44 (0)7753 739766
E-mail: at.stephenson@imperial.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions,
Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose
reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students
(11,000) and staff (6,000) of the highest international quality.
Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science,
medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that
enhance the quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic
enterprise culture. Website: www.imperial.ac.uk


--
Phil Stovell, South Hampshire, UK

In reply to Phil Stovell 's previous message,
included herein,

>I bet there's no shortage of volunteers!

I wonder who gets the roach?

Bet it turns out to be one of those psychology experiments without a
single molecule of THC.

>
>http://www.imperial.ac.uk/P6787.htm
>
>Researchers to test if cannabis ingredient can help COPD patients
>
>For immediate release
>Friday 2 September 2005
>
>Researchers from Imperial College London are looking for volunteers to
>test whether cannabinoids, the active ingredient of cannabis, can be used
>to alleviate the sensation of breathlessness caused by illnesses such as
>chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
>
>The team are looking for volunteers aged between 50 and 70, who dont have
>breathing difficulties.
>
>Dr Elspeth Pickering Open, clinical research fellow, from Imperial College
>London and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, says: "Despite the best
>efforts of scientists for many years, no one has been able to develop a
>way to deal with the sensation of breathlessness without suppressing the
>drive to breathe. Breathlessness can have a major impact on the quality of
>life for patients with respiratory diseases, and by using a cannabinoid,
>we hope to find a way to block the mechanism which causes it."
>
>The researchers believe the cannabinoids could be used to reduce the
>sensation of breathlessness without depressing the respiratory system.
>
>The study will take a morning on two different days, during which time
>volunteers will be hooked up to a circuit to regulate and measure their
>breathing. Carbon dioxide will be added to the air breathed by the
>volunteers, causing the sensation of breathlessness. This is a safe method
>of simulating breathlessness as the body naturally produces carbon
>dioxide. Afterwards the volunteers will be given a spray which includes
>tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis, which
>researchers hope will reduce the sensation of breathlessness.
>
>Dr Anita Holdcroft from Imperial College London and Chelsea and
>Westminster Hospital, and study leader, adds: "The special formulation of
>the drug as a spray avoids the harmful effects of smoking cannabis. We
>hope the drug will stop the sensation of breathlessness, potentially
>providing a new way to deal with respiratory diseases."
>
>The study will be conducted at Charing Cross Hospital in west London.
>Volunteers will be paid for their time committed to the study. Volunteers
>aged between 50 and 70 who dont have breathing difficulties and wish to
>take part should call 020 8846 1234 ext. 7055 to register their interest.
>
>For further information please contact:
>
>Tony Stephenson
>Press Officer
>Communications Division
>Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6712
>Mobile: +44 (0)7753 739766
>E-mail: at.stephenson@imperial.ac.uk
>
>Notes to editors:
>
>1. Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions,
>Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose
>reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students
>(11,000) and staff (6,000) of the highest international quality.
>Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science,
>medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that
>enhance the quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic
>enterprise culture. Website: www.imperial.ac.uk