Brazilian universities have come together to develop a groundbreaking research aiming to create a detailed database on the phytochemical composition of genetic materials, including in vitro cell cultures.

The partnership brings together the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), and the University of São Paulo (USP). The project is coordinated by Professor Patrícia Guimarães Santos Melo (UFG) and is titled: 'Innovation in the selection of Genetic Materials of Cannabis sativa for medicinal use: Near Infrared Spectroscopy.'

The database aims to be a reference for the standardization of extracts and cannabinoid products, contributing to greater safety, quality, and efficacy in the medicinal use of cannabis.

Institutional support

The proposal is supported by the Academic Cooperation Program (Procad), an initiative of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Capes) in partnership with the National Secretariat for Drug Policies (Senad).

According to a statement from UFLA, the central objective is to use Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to develop rapid, accurate, and non-destructive protocols in the selection of Cannabis sativa genotypes intended for medicinal use.

At UFLA, actions include the work of postdoctoral researcher Diogo Pedrosa Corrêa da Silva and the development of master's dissertations in the Graduate Program in Applied Botany.

With information from UFLA