A $33.7 million gift to the University of Sydney places Australia at the forefront of medicinal cannabinoid research.
‘Our vision is to make Australia a world-leader in researching how to realise the powerful medicinal potential of the cannabis plant’ said Barry Lambert – who together with his wife Joy has funded the Lambert Initiative.
‘The experience of our granddaughter – who suffers debilitating epilepsy – has opened our eyes to the extraordinary possibility of cannabinoids treating not only her condition – but a range of chronic illnesses that often don’t respond to conventional treatments.
‘We believe this investment in the future of Australian science and medicine will provide the much-needed evidence to rapidly advance the use of medicinal cannabinoids in the treatment of childhood epilepsy and other serious illnesses’.
The donation is the largest gift ever made to research at the University of Sydney.
‘The Lamberts’ unprecedented gift holds the promise of achieving innovative and effective new medicines to alleviate the suffering of countless numbers of people’ said Dr Michael Spence – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney.
‘It enables research across a broad range of applications from addiction – cancer – obesity – childhood epilepsy – and chronic pain – to dementia and mental health disorders. Their generosity recognises the University’s commitment to cross-disciplinary research that can achieve life-changing outcomes. It is our privilege and responsibility to respond.
‘A world-first in the extent of its support for medicinal cannabis research – it places Australia in the front rank of countries – such as the Netherlands – the United States and Israel – leading the world in this new era of cannabinoid science’.
The Lambert Initiative funds a multi-year program to build on the University’s extensive clinical and scientific cannabinoid-related expertise to ultimately produce cannabinoid-based medicines.
NSW Premier Mike Baird has congratulated the University of Sydney on the significant initiative and applauded the generosity of the Lamberts.
‘NSW is breaking new ground in terms of medical cannabis research and this major investment confirms our state’s leadership in this area’ Mr Baird said.
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