LI cannabis researcher to study head trauma treatment

KannaLife Sciences Inc., a pharmaceutical cannabis research and development company headquartered in Lloyd Harbor, signed its second license agreement with the National Institutes of Health Monday to research treatments for a neurodegenerative disease linked to head trauma.

The plant-based medicine company will begin researching possible cannabinoid treatments for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a cognitive condition believed to be caused by repeated head trauma and concussions.

Formed in 2010, KannaLife received its first license agreement from the NIH's Office of Technology Transfer in 2012 to research treatments for hepatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative condition linked to failures of the liver.

Its lab and two researchers are based at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in Doylestown. The company intends to begin animal toxicology testing for its hepatic encephalopathy treatment this fall before applying for FDA-approved human trials early next year.