Richard Philbrook, Principal Scientist of Genetics at Curaleaf – Interview Series

What were the most interesting and worthwhile courses you attended while obtaining your Master’s degree in plant biology from UC-Davis? Why was the program there so special when compared to plant biology programs in other schools?

I knew I wanted to work in cannabis, in some plant-touching role early on but had no idea how to make an impact or build a career around that idea. There were two classes I took that had a formative role in helping me decide to be a scientist, and specifically a geneticist, working in cannabis. The first was an introductory biology class I took at my local community college. I remember a lab day where we isolated cells from onion roots, stained their DNA and visualized it in a microscope. It was a hugely inspiring moment to proceed through a difficult protocol, not knowing if anything was going to work until the end, and getting that buzz of validation when things worked out. I realized that biology was way more hands-on than I expected, and the process of carrying out experiments was something I enjoyed and was actually good at. I decided to major in Plant Biology and attend UC Davis after that.

The second class was titled “Plant Development” and was structured around studying genetic pathways in plants, and how those pathways, of genes turning on and off, result in the vast array of ways plants evolved to interact with and thrive in their environment. While taking the class, I immediately saw how these concepts applied to cannabis, and I decided to pursue genetics specifically as a career path.

UC Davis is one of, if not the, top universities in the world for studying botany and plant biology. It is in the heart of one of the most productive agriculture regions in the world, and this has attracted many amazing professors to conduct research on campus. The access to these professors, and seeing “rock stars” that I read about during undergraduate studies who contributed great things to science while remaining humble and focused on developing the next generation, was very inspiring.

What publications has your previous work and research in molecular biology been published in? Why was that research in those subjects so crucial?

During my time at UC Davis, I was part of a study funded by Heinz and the USDA to study how a parasitic plant called Dodder attacks tomato plants and devastates yield, and potential routes to breed tomatoes resistant to the parasite. We discovered a cell-wall mechanism in resistant heirloom tomatoes that prevented the parasite from attaching to the host. This research was published shortly after I left the university and continues to be studied by plant parasite researchers.

After joining Dark Heart, our lab has made several groundbreaking discoveries that have caused paradigm shifts in the industry. The first, and perhaps most impactful, was the discovery of Hop Latent Viroid as a rampant disease causing potency and yield loss throughout the industry. People were skeptical at first, but six or seven years later, there are many companies specializing in testing for the viroid, and nearly every commercial cultivator, big and small, has some sort of testing program in place to keep their grows free of infection.

Another research project our lab has worked on is investigating ploidy in cannabis. We released some of the first commercial cannabis triploids, including seeds available to home growers through a collaboration with Humboldt Seed Company, and discovered and published the occurrence of natural triploids, like Mac1, that cannabis makes on its own. More recently, we have been working on Double Haploids, and were the first lab to create them in cannabis.

What is the definition of cannabis biotechnology in particular and how is it regularly studied and used in the cannabis industry?

Cannabis biotechnology is the practical application of concepts and tools like ploidy, pathology, molecular breeding, etc, to real-world problems in the industry. You can do all the amazing science you want in a lab, but it will be purely academic unless you can adapt the ideas to improve actual cultivating practices. The “how is it used” part is integral in the concept of biotechnology, and I see it every day in our lab.

For example, we use what we call “marker-assisted phenohunts” taking genetic data we generate in our lab, and using it to predict and select new crosses.

What roles did you serve with Dark Heart Nursery and how did those roles provide you with a greater and more direct understanding of cannabis genetics and cultivation?

When I first joined Dark Heart, I was looking for any foot in the door of the industry. There were not many companies even doing real science at that point, so I took anything I could, which resulted in an entry level tissue culture technician job at Dark Heart Nursery (now called Dark Heart, a Curaleaf brand). I was making $17 an hour and commuting by train to Oakland and back three hours a day, but I loved it. It was incredible to see the scientific concepts I had devoted the past six years to studying being applied to the plant I fell in love with and decided to build a career around. This passion mixed with hardship acted as a sort of crucible for me to make a real impact in the company, and I quickly moved up to a scientist position, running genetics and pathology in the lab.

We moved the lab to Davis, where most of the scientific staff was located and where we had a great talent pool to hire from, and the rest is history.

Our lab was acquired by Curaleaf in early 2024, and we have made an immediate and tangible impact in genetics, quality and cultivation since then. I was fortunate to be promoted to Principal Scientist this year, and run all of the day-to-day operations and facets of the lab.

What interested you about working with Curaleaf? How did you believe that your experience and research in plant biology would benefit such a large company?

There was of course some hesitation about joining Curaleaf; we were afraid of being lost in the crowd of a large company.

But the experience hasn’t been anything like we feared. There are different challenges working in a large company with cultivation in many states, sure. But the reception we have gotten from leadership has been great, and we have support and access to new tools and larger R&D budgets. Seeing our work impact hundreds of thousands, if not millions of cannabis fans and medical patients, has been incredibly rewarding.

What are your duties as Principal Scientist of Genetics at Curaleaf? What types of groundbreaking research does that role allow you to complete?

In my current role, I conceptualize and manage research and development initiatives in plant genetics and molecular breeding. As part of that, I lead our team and supervise lab operations for genetics, biochemistry, plant pathology, and tissue culture research and diagnostics. I also oversee the offerings, branding and rollout of our flower brands in the US and Europe.

One area of research that we could have never done as Dark Heart Nursery [before joining Curaleaf], is the sensory aspect of cannabis and how it drives experience and expectations of quality. We can conduct large panels of sensory testing, getting people to smell, taste and experience different strains we create to land on truly unique new varieties that capture nostalgia or give something no one has smelled before. Then we can take those plants back to the lab and discover what genes or compounds are contributing to that uniqueness.

How does your role and extensive insight in plant biology have an influence on the types of strains and subsequent products that Curaleaf produces? How is your research considered when the cultivation teams decide on which strains to grow over others?

Most of the strains currently grown and to be grown are first conceptualized in the lab, based on a specific experiential goal in mind (aroma, effects, etc). From there, it’s a collaboration between our genetic data and our cultivators’ experience to bring those strains to life.

We also are heavily involved in all aspects of Dark Heart Flower, from the seeds to strain names to logos and packaging. We treat it like our baby because of the blood, sweat and tears so many Dark Heart team members put into it over 20 years.

What topics in molecular and plant biology are the most pertinent when it comes to healthy and successful cannabis cultivation? Why are those subjects so relevant still?

Plant pathology is hugely important. It doesn’t matter how great your genetics are if plants are sick and dying before they can be harvested. Molecular techniques like qPCR are used daily to test plants for pathogens and stop their spread.

Plant breeding, both classical and modern, are also important. In such a low-margin, highly competitive and saturated industry, breeding plants that satisfy operational metrics while also being exciting to consumers can be the ultimate difference-maker.

To someone who thinks all cannabis strains are the same and genetics don’t matter much in the long run, how would you explain the grand importance of cannabis genetics and how responsible they are for the diversity of cannabis strains?

Dark Heart is synonymous with genetics so they are at the core of everything we do and they lay the foundation for all new strains.

For instance, our latest limited-edition drop, Through the Woods, was the result of rigorous sensory testing and genetic refinement. We like to follow a “gut + science” philosophy that blends rigorous research with grower intuition, and we ensure every cultivar reaches its full genetic potential, with strains selected for terpene complexity and flavor narrative over raw THC.

The cannabis strains we’ve produced wouldn’t exist without our award-winning genetics so we believe genetics are everything to cannabis and definitely matter.

To someone who doesn’t believe genetics matter or strains are the same: sit down with some of our new Razzle Dazzle (coming soon!) and Sugar Kushions flower. Smell the sharp terpinolene and berry and feel the uplifting experience of the former, versus the sweet doughy and sedating aspects of the latter. The proof is in the pudding!

Thank you for joining us, Richard! For more information on Curaleaf, please visit its website.