Associate Professor Peter Grimison is well known by staff and former patients of the hospital’s oncology unit.

The Western NSW Local Health District confirmed his continuing commitment to the unit after NSW Minister for Medical Research Pru Goward announced the clinical trial.

She said Associate Professor Grimison, from Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Camperdown, would lead the trial in association with the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and leading NSW cancer centres. 

Associate Professor Grimison said there was “very limited” high-quality research available on the role of cannabis-derived medicines in treating nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.

“We have come a long way with conventional anti-nausea medication, but one-third of patients continue to suffer during and after chemotherapy,” he said. “The role of cannabis medicines in alleviating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is still unclear, and this study aims to provide a definitive answer to this question.” 

The trial will involve 80 patients in its first stage but may be expanded to include 250 more patients across the state. Ms Goward said it was the largest and most definitive trial ever conducted in the world of a plant-derived cannabis medicine for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. 

“The trial will play a critical role in developing a better understanding of how cannabis products may provide relief for cancer patients,” she said. 

“The trial will be using an oral plant-derived, pharmaceutical-grade capsule, the first of its kind in the world, containing equal amounts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), developed and supplied by Canadian company Tilray.”

Ms Goward said NSW was “leading the way” with the clinical trial part of the state government’s $21 million investment in medicinal cannabis clinical trials and reforms.