Our Research

The Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (CeCaR) fosters and supports high-quality disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and translational cannabis research at the University at Buffalo.

Cannabis research.

Changing the Dialogue on Cannabis

The mission of the CeCaR is to conduct basic and human disciplinary and interdisciplinary translational research designed to improve the scientific understanding of the components of cannabis, patterns of use by various populations, health and medical benefits, adverse reactions, and negative effects and consequences, including addiction. These issues will also be examined in the context of social justice and equity impacts of cannabis policy on historically marginalized communities. 

Strategies Ahead

CeCaR is a competitive pilot study program awarding startup funds to researchers conducting cannabis-based researchers. Pilot study funding would support up to five projects. Benchmarks of success for research productivity are based on peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific meetings, as well as continued success in garnering additional research funding. 

Pilot projects funded by CeCaR

 CeCaR funds a pilot study program that is designed to provide data that will improve the competitiveness of applications submitted to external funders. Eligibility for funding is limited to members of CeCaR’s research-active faculty.

To date  the following projects, listed in alphabetical order based on PI’s last name, have received funding:

  • Nicholas Felicione, PhD, Department of Community Health and Health Behavior,  School of Public Health and Health Professions. Project title: Pilot study for biobehavioral ecological momentary assessment of nicotine-cannabis co-use
  • Supriya  D. Mahajan, PhD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Project title: Cannabis vaping-induced inflammasome activation and chronic lung inflammation
  • Wie Sun, PhD, Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences. Project title: Neonatal cannabis exposure on sound processing and auditory cortex development  
  • Peter Thanos, PhD, Department of  Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Project title: A validated bioanalytical assay for measurement of CBD, 7-OH-CBD, and 7-COOH-CBD in blood plasma: A rat model