Recent Advances in the Science of Cannabis

Robert M. Strongin is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at Portland State University. He has studied the chemistry of vaping since 2013. He has been interested in determining how flavorings, including terpenes and other vape constituents, react and degrade when heated and aerosolized. In 2017 he began to investigate cannabis vaping and published the first peer-reviewed reports on the specific byproducts formed when dabbing terpenes, and, more recently, on the reactions and products that form upon vaping and dabbing concentrated cannabis oil mixtures. Dr. Strongin runs an internationally recognized research program, is a founder of two biotech startup companies, and is known for his contributions to STEM education. In addition to tobacco control and cannabis science, he is an expert in the field of biosensors and targeted molecular probes for imaging cancer tissue. Monica Vialpando is a pharmaceutically trained product development scientist, specializing in the formulation of poorly water-soluble drugs. As founder and CEO of Via Innovations, a bespoke product development company, she integrates this background with plant-based medicines to create fit-for-purpose designed products. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, she is active in education and thought leadership and often focuses on cannabis-based strategies to support women’s health, and is a scientific advisor to multiple organizations. With a passion for diversity and global connection, Dr. Vialpando’s reach extends beyond typical barriers to collaborate with international experts and companies. She also leverages this throughout her company to design their differentiated products through the integration of plantbased medicines, science, technology, and art. Jiries Meehan-Atrash graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2014 and in 2021 earned his PhD in Chemistry from Portland State University after studying e-cigarette aerosol chemistry and analytical methods under the mentorship of Dr. Robert M. Strongin. Jiries is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Rochester Medical Center in the laboratory of Dr. Irfan Rahman.