The Cannabis Scientist Power List 2020 (I) / Analytical Gurus

Who are the most influential people in cannabis science? 

That’s the question we posed to ourselves – and then to you – earlier this year, with open nominations followed by evaluation from our expert judging panel. 

Here, we celebrate the answer – highlighting the Top scientists in two categories: cannabis analysis and cannabis research.

Analytical Gurus

1.-Donald Land

Professor of Chemistry, Forensic Science, and Biotechnology, University of California, Davis; Chief Scientific Consultant, Steep Hill; Consultant, Front Range Biosciences; Expert Witness in Controlled Substances, California, USA

Starting out in cannabis science: In 2010, I was hired as a consultant and co-founded Halent Laboratories, an early cannabis testing lab, in West Sacramento. Prior to that, I had taught similar methods for controlled substance determination in forensics. We merged with Steep Hill (first to market in the cannabis testing space) in 2013.

2.-Susan Audino

ISO Assessor and Instructor, Scientific Advisor at AOAC International CASP, and Chemistry Laboratory Consultant at S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

Challenges facing the field: Experience. Efficiency. Confidence. Experience in building and qualifying test methods, understanding that efficiency is not always about the shortest run-time, and global confidence in the test results. I remain hopeful that this very young industry will continue to transcend the challenges.

3.-Reggie Gaudino

VP R&D, Front Range Biosciences, Lafayette, Colorado, USA

Most exciting project: Every project is exciting because we have so much to learn and there is so much “low-hanging fruit.” The expertise of our team allows us to dive deep into both chemistry and genomics. Right now, I’m excited to push ahead on the chemistry side because more target compounds leads to more breeding markers on the genetics side, which ultimately gives us the ability to develop new purpose-bred varieties.

Motivation: Knowledge and understanding. I’m a systems- and process-oriented person. Each of the gene networks we study is a system designed to carry out a range of individual processes that combine to solve biological needs. Figuring out how all that fits together and how we can manipulate it so we can accelerate the optimization process is what excites me.

Where is the field heading? Methods that allow characterization of sample content with fewer preparation/extraction steps will be needed to meet high-throughput demands. But we also need more detailed analysis. Eight cannabinoids and a handful of terpenes isn’t enough. The more we know, the better we’ll be able to make use of this highly versatile plant.

Nominator comment: “A visionary.”

4.-Kevin McKernan

Founder and CSO, Medicinal Genomics, Beverly, Massachusetts, USA

Motivation: It is much easier to build successful start-ups if you are focused on something that can change the world. From pharmaceuticals to food to a cleaner environment, cannabis cannot be ignored.

Luckiest break: Dropping out of two PhD programs to start Agencourt Biosciences.

Lesson learned: Diligence is more important than your degree.

5.-John Abrams

Chairman and CSO, The Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium (CESC), San Diego, California, USA; Scientific Director of The Emerald Conference; Acting CSO, Orion GMP Solutions, Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA

Motivation: Finding out how cannabis chemotypes influence the overall user experience.

Career highlight: Pursuing fundamental discovery research in the field of immunology for over 30 years, and now over the past decade in cannabis science.

Most exciting project: Integrating cannabis chemotype data with user brainwave EEG response patterns and attempting to establish correlations with underlying human genetics.(Más)

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