Brain specialist, plant researcher tapped to lead California cannabis institute

Published February 11, 2020

California’s flagship agriculture school has tapped a schizophrenia researcher and a plant expert to lead its new center to study hemp and marijuana.

The University of California, Davis, appointed professors Cameron Carter and Li Tian as co-directors of its Cannabis & Hemp Research Center.

Created last year, the research center is charged with:

  • Increasing academic collaboration around hemp and marijuana.
  • Establishing external partnerships related to cannabis.

Carter researches the effects of marijuana in the brain.

Tian studies plant metabolism and diseases. Her work includes identifying candidate genes in the cannabis plant affecting delta-9 THC biosynthesis.

UC Davis is among several public and private universities racing to lock down research funding for cannabis study and expand offerings around cannabis education.