About
Speaker:
Duncan Mackie, PhD, Director of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, MedPharm Holdings
Event Description:
Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the most challenging neurodegenerative conditions to treat, and interest is growing in how cannabinoids might modulate key pathways involved in its progression. MedPharm Holdings, a Denver-based cannabis research and formulation development company, has focused its R&D program on neuropharmacology—particularly Alzheimer’s disease and dementia—leveraging one of Colorado’s first cannabis research licenses and a federal Schedule I research license to systematically study cannabis-derived compounds.
In this presentation, Dr. Duncan Mackie will share emerging findings from his ongoing work conducted in collaboration with academic partners through Colorado State University’s Institute of Cannabis Research. This project investigates how specific phytocannabinoids may influence Alzheimer’s-related mechanisms, with an emphasis on neuroinflammation, neuronal health, and potential disease-modifying pathways.
Bio:
Dr. Duncan I. Mackie is the Director of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Bud & Mary’s, where he leads innovative research in drug discovery, cellular and molecular biology, and G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pharmacology to explore the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. His work focuses on their interactions with the endocannabinoid system, with the goal of identifying novel drug targets and developing new treatments for complex diseases. He is one of only a small number of investigators in the United States to hold a Federal DEA Schedule I Researcher license to study cannabis and cannabinoids, which uniquely positions his laboratory to advance translational research in this rapidly evolving field.
A recognized leader in cannabis research, Dr. Mackie has established a rigorous, externally funded research program focused on the role of the endocannabinoid system in modulating immune function during the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. His wide-ranging research interests span all areas of cannabis and cannabinoid research, from development of analytical and regulatory testing methods, investigations into label compliance and quality standards, cellular and mechanistic studies of cannabinoid signaling, creation of biosensors and high-throughput pharmacology assays, and the design of advanced preclinical models of neuroinflammation. He is also actively involved in clinical translation research, contributing to FDA-approved clinical trials.
Dr. Mackie has published in leading journals including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Journal of Experimental Medicine, and he is an inventor on multiple patents arising from his discoveries. He is a sought-after speaker and lecturer on cannabis and science-related topics at various conferences and events, and he mentors students and trainees through his role as a Graduate Faculty member in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Additionally, he is the Chair of the Cannabis Program Advisory Board at the Community College of Denver and as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Cannabis Research, reflecting his dedication to advancing cannabis science through both education and scholarly publishing.
He earned his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of the Cumberlands and his Ph.D. in Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry from the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics Department at the University of Iowa School of Pharmacy and completed his postdoctoral research in the Department of Cellular Biology and Physiology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.