Episode 4 - Guillermo Velasco Diez, PhD - Biochemist and Researcher - Complutense University, Madrid

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“People need the real scientific information…”

Guillermo Velasco Díez, PhD

Today Hannah Courtauld (Psychologist) and spoke to Guillermo Velasco Diez, (PhD). Guillermo is a biochemist heavily involved in the research of the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in the treatment of Cancer.

In this episode, Hannah and Guillermo Discuss:

  • Guillermo’s academic background and route into the world of cannabinoid research

  • The mechanisms of action of cannabinoids in terms of attenuating the physiological impact of carcinoma

  • Crowdsourced funding strategies including the medical cannabis bike tour

  • The current state of play with regards to clinical studies in this field

  • Glioblastoma and how cannabinoids are being used to treat this condition

  • His work with the Spanish Observatory of Medical Cannabis

  • Charitable and educational organisations like the canna foundation

Guillermo Velasco Díez, PhD

Guillermo Velasco Díez, PhD

Guillermo Velasco was born in Madrid, studied Biology and obtained his PhD degree (1997) at the School of Biology of the Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. After defending his PhD, he got an EMBO long-term fellowship to work in Philip Cohen’s laboratory at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit (Dundee, Scotland) on a project aimed at studying the regulation and of the Rho-activated protein kinase (ROCK).

In 1999 he was awarded a position as an Assistant Teacher at the School of Chemistry of the Complutense University and in 2003 was awarded an associate professorship.

In 2001 Guillermo started a line of research aimed at investigating the mechanisms underlying cannabinoid anti-tumour action as well as at optimising the potential clinical utilisation of these agents in cancer therapies.

Many different avenues are currently been explored by in his group - they are currently investigating the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, apoptosis, intracellular trafficking of ceramide and regulation of mTORC1 and mTORC2 in cannabinoid anti-tumour action, as well as the participation of growth factor receptor-activated pathways in the resistance to the anti-neoplastic actions of cannabinoids.

Niall Campbell