PainLab on the other side of the ocean: ICRS 2015 in Canada!
Between 28th June and 3rd July Natalia, Magda and Agnieszka participated in the most awaited conference – Annual Symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society which this year took place in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The International Cannabinoid Research Society is a scientific association with more than 500 members worldwide, all those who are active researchers in the field of endogenous, plant-derived and synthetic cannabinoids and related bioactive lipids. We are happy and proud to be among them!
In March, just after the arrival from Cambridge Pain Meeting, when we didn’t even begin to unpack our suitcases, we started to prepare and submit abstracts for this conference immediately! We were lucky to be accepted by the Conference Programme Committee and a few weeks later we were sure to go to Canada and to present our results during the 25th Annual Symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society. Moreover, Agnieszka, Magda and Natalia received The ICRS Student Travel Award to help defray the costs of the symposium.
ICRS symposia are known to cover all topics of cannabinoid research, therefore PainLab members had the opportunity to hear about new synthetic compounds (session: Novel chemical entities), natural cannabinoids (session: Plant Studies and Non-THC Cannabinoids), the importance of the CB2 receptor (session: CB2 Receptors) and metabolism of those interesting compounds (session: EC Transport and Metabolism). And all this during just one meeting! To read more about ICRS2015 program click here: SYMPOSIUM 2015
This edition of the conference was unique and very demanding for PainLab members. Unique because it was first ICRS ever for Agnieszka and Magda. Demanding cause the ICRS meetings are known to be abundant in new scientific information and high level conversations, very intense poster sessions and oral presentations followed by masses of questions. For Natalia it was a particularly big challenge as she presented two lectures (one in the CB2 receptors session and the other in the Symposium in association with NIDA Role of Cannabinoids in chronic pain: an update and co-chaired GPR55 session. Unfortunately, Kasia couldn’t attend ICRS this year but she supported the girls every day by giving them substantial hints. As a result they gave their best shot in talking about their results and also in representing Poland as the host for ICRS in the coming 2016! Kasia was dearly missed and she wanted to thank everyone who sent her warm greetings.
To enjoy the conference even more organizers provided us with wonderful social events that allowed us to collect positive memories of Nova Scotia, breathtaking landscape, delicious sea food and the friendliness of the locals. From the four options the organizer offered, we have chosen touring trip through the vineyards. We were astonished by the richness of the grapes they grow and the variety of wines they produce in this harsh climate.
Because our flight back to Kraków was at midnight we decided to explore the beauty of Nova Scotia a little bit. Thanks to our local friends we took the ride to the Coast and soak our feet in the Ocean! Thank you Eugene and Tome for being the best and the funniest guides ever!
We’re looking forward to another brilliant ICRS Symposium on the Cannabinoids!
See you all in Bukovina!
