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null IDIGH Program/CETI Joint Seminar (May 8, 2019)

Carolyn J. Baglole, PhD

Where: At the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI‑MUHC) Glen Site, block E, room M1.3509, 1001 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1

When: Wednesday, May 8, 12–1 p.m.


Speaker: Carolyn J. Baglole, PhD
Director- McGill Research Centre for Cannabis
Director- Histopathology Technology Platform
Co-Director- Experimental Pathology Unit
Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine, Pathology & Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University

A collaborative approach to deciphering the immunological impact of cannabis exposure

Do you ever wonder what is in the air you breathe? You should- given that you take around 20,000 breaths per day. Did you also know that cigarette smoke contributes to the toxicity of common air contaminants and remains the largest cause of preventable death worldwide? Despite knowledge about the deleterious effects of tobacco, we are seeing a surge in the use of emerging tobacco-based products such as e-cigarettes. With legalization of cannabis in Canada now a reality, this is even more complex, and we must also consider exposure to cannabis and cannabis-derived products. While most people still use cannabis by inhaling cannabis smoke, vaporized cannabis is becoming increasingly popular. But cannabis is different than other combustion substances because cannabis may offer therapeutic potential to treat a host of acute and chronic diseases- which can be classified as “diseases of altered immunity”. While my research group largely focuses on identifying new biological mechanisms to mitigate the damaging effects of cigarette smoke, our new collaborative program aims to decipher the immunological impact of cannabis exposure.