CIITECH, a cannabis biotech company that focuses on developing and commercializing medical cannabis products, is planning on funding a research project with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on the treatment of asthma through cannabis.

The project would be led by Prof. Raphael Mechoulam, a pioneer in the field of cannabis research, Prof. Francesca Levi-Schaffer, who specializes in asthma research, and the Multidisciplinary Center on Cannabinoid Research of the Hebrew University.

“Israel is the epicenter of R&D on cannabis and most of the work has happened in the Hebrew University,” CIITECH founder Clifton Flack, said. “Asthma is close to my heart as I suffer from the condition.”

The scientists will research whether CBD, a derivative of cannabidiol, has an inhibitory effect on allergic airway inflammations that cause asthma attacks. Since last year, CBD has been legal in the UK and available in retailers across the country and online, according to a statement by CIITECH.

“We know that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and we’re looking forward to investigating whether this will be effective in treating asthma and related respiratory conditions,” Mechoulam said.

Israel is at the forefront of therapeutic cannabis, being home to the Hebrew University’s Multidisciplinary Center on Cannabis Research, one of the world’s leading institutes on the plant. Prof. Levi-Schaffer’s laboratory at the university aims to find new ways to treat allergy and the role that cannabis compounds play in allergic diseases.

“Most of the symptoms of allergic disease patients are controlled by either symptomatic drugs or corticosteroids. However, some patients are steroid-resistant and allergic diseases such as severe asthma have been labeled as unmet clinical needs by the World Health Organization,” Levi-Schaffer said. “We believe our research will provide a novel and effective solution to treating this condition.”

Israel boosts a strong biotech industry and leading medical institutes that support medical uses of cannabis. Researchers at Hebrew University have shown CBD and its derivatives work in epilepsy, schizophrenia and other psychiatric diseases, pain, some cancers, and Type 1 diabetes.

The ultimate goal of the research would be to do research in Israel and market products as food supplements in the UK.

“We hope to have preliminary results of the research in some six months,” Flack said. “The company is already marketing CBD-based products in the UK, and is looking to back up the products sold with solid research.”