Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer at Masaya Medical – Interview Series

When it comes to the relatively new but still vast fields of cannabis science and research, few scientists are as renowned as Dr. Annabelle Manalo Morgan. Along with serving as a variety of board of directors and head researcher for numerous cannabis and hemp brands, Dr. Manalo-Morgan has also served as the Founder & Chief Scientific Officer for Masaya Medical, a CBD oil brand that she both researched and founded the products for. On top of that, the Vanderbilt University graduate has traveled across the world with her doctorate in Cell and Development Biology and has also released “Mighty Flower: How Cannabis Saved My Son”, a moving memoir detailing the harrowing but impactful story of treating her son Macario’s debilitating seizure condition with cannabidiol-based medicines.

What initially interested you about studying science and what fields of science did you study while at the illustrious universities you’ve attended?

I wanted to be a basketball player but becoming a doctor was always a Plan B. When I started on the medical school path though, I asked a lot of deeper questions about the root of disease and the mechanisms in how we develop. When I learned that I could work towards these answers doing research, I chose that path. I started with Neuroscience, went to Cell and Developmental Biology, and more recently on Cardio-Oncology.

How is the field of biology that you have your PhD in relevant towards cannabis science and the various science-related positions you’ve held? Did you ever envision yourself working as extensively in cannabis science and research as you do when you were still in school?

Cellular Biology is such a unique and important contributor towards the mechanisms, safety, and discovery of cannabis science. I almost feel like the education that I’ve obtained has prepared me to need to utilize and study cannabis one day. With the diversity of pathways cannabinoids play in the brain then body, having a neuroscience and cell biology backbone allows me to have a very thorough understanding of where cannabis research is and where it can go! Cannabis was never on my radar and never crossed my desk. I never thought that I would ever study this amazing plant!

Since graduating, what have been some of the roles that you’ve held in the fields of cannabis science and what were some examples of important or groundbreaking cannabis research you conducted in those roles?

My cannabis journey has actually pulled me out of the lab (not completely, I still get my feet wet) and into a global liaison position. Since cannabis research is not as mainstream as we’d like it to be, I have found that traditional cannabinoid science that was being done needed a follow up, a collaborator, or funding. Through consulting and speaking globally, my impact on being able to connect more dots has brought acceptance to the plant in places that were extremely opposed to it. Clinical trials are great but without thorough preclinical research, cannabis science can never reach its full potential. Being a lead scientist for several companies and a board member of a Nasdaq company has made my translation of science into medical application increasingly impactful.

I noticed that your roles and vast educational experience in cannabis science have taken you across the world. Where have been some of the most noteworthy and/or interesting places that you’ve visited to conduct research?

Every single place that I’ve been to has been noteworthy in its own way. I always feel like I’m having to educate people and provide support to those committed to the plant. I’ve been to pretty much every place twice. I like to keep my word when it comes to collaboration and moving legislation forward. I’m particularly excited for the research and clinical trials in the Caribbean, Colombia, Philippines, Uganda, and all across Europe and the UK.

How are those countries you’ve visited influential in cannabis research and science on the global level?

What’s interesting is the diversity of research that is actually happening with cannabis globally. It is really dependent on the expertise of the group doing the science. For instance in Morocco, the University of Rabat has an incredible Neuroscience program and are interested in how cannabinoids reduce neuroinflammation. Their science is very granular and looks at cannabinoids on astrocytes and in mice.

While in the UK, the University of Manchester is interested in how cannabinoids reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain through control of perception. At all levels and with all research I’m involved in, there is an understanding that thorough scientific rigor is the key for medical cannabis to become available to patients. It is just about doing studies in parallel so that we can make this happen faster and cheaper. For that, my team and I have built an accelerator called Enexa Labs.

What led to the creation of Masaya Medical? And since I know the impactful story involves your son, I also wanted to ask about the Mighty Flower book as well and what events led to the publishing of that very special book.

Masaya means happy in Filipino. In 2016, I created a CBD formula that allowed my son to develop normally after having 38% of his brain removed. We were told that he would never walk, talk, or eat on his own. My husband and I created Masaya Medical in order to get that same CBD to patients and in clinic trials. Furthermore, we wanted to push the research so that more cannabinoid benefits can be found in order to see more stories like our son’s. Mighty Flower was published because I wanted to find a way to inspire, help, and educate more people. After seeing the impact of sharing my son’s story time and time again, I hope that by writing a book I can reach more people and create a larger impact.

When it comes to the Mighty Flower book, what have been some of the reviews you’ve received? Have you noticed that other parents have found themselves in similarly dire situations as you were with your son’s condition?

The reviews have actually been mind blowing. It’s given people hope, educated all sorts of people on the history and uses of the plant, and courage because many families are able to relate to being in scary situations such as the one we were in with our son. We all have tragedy, we all experience being in a place where our backs are against the wall. One of my hopes with Mighty Flower is that a mother, a student, an athlete…any person could think to themselves “if she can do it, so can I!” and to value substance. We don’t get success in life without failure- we need to constantly have the confidence to overcome and steps cannot be skipped.

When it comes to overall cannabis science, where are some areas of research that are lacking or aren’t studied nearly as much? What fields of research or policies do you believe would advance scientific cannabis research?

I think there are amazing scientists doing amazing cannabis science but you will see a cool mice study and not see any follow up. So there are so many gaps. Funding and legislation is always science’s biggest hurdle and at the same time best friend. If we are able to collaborate and able to thoroughly study cannabis like we study anything else, the sky is the limit for how we all heal in the future. Quality of life and Medicine in general will have fewer toxicities and a more holistic modality of healing.

Assuming that a federal rescheduling from Schedule I to Schedule III occurs, how would that reform change the current federal prohibitions on cannabis research?

For research, Schedule 3 would remove some restrictions and open up federal funding for cannabis research while allowing academia to be less cautious when it comes to performing the studies. It would be a scientific victory but the reality is, cannabis use is becoming more and more normal amongst society today. Restricting cannabis from a patient would seem like we are going backwards. For us to properly do in-depth studies on the exact safety and efficacy of what medical patients are currently using is the suggested focus.

This would ensure safe long term use and healthy, translational communication between the manufacturers of these products, the scientists, the regulators, the doctors, and the medical patients.

Thank you for joining us Dr. Manalo-Morgan! For more information on the groundbreaking biologist and her work, please follow Dr. Manalo Morgan’s website.