Jessica Tonani and Verda Bio are expanding cannabis research beyond the handful of cannabinoids that dominate commercial products. Verda Bio operates a licensed research platform combining plant genetics, analytical testing, cultivation research, cannabinoid efficacy work, and real-world commercialization, with an emphasis on rare, naturally occurring cannabinoids.
The company was among the early groups to publicly release cannabis genomic information and has collaborated with researchers at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory to generate and release public cannabis microbiome data. That open-science component gives other researchers tools to study a plant whose biology has historically been constrained by prohibition and limited access to research.
Verda Bio’s work also addresses consistency. Cannabis can produce more than one hundred cannabinoids, but researchers cannot meaningfully compare potential effects when compounds are difficult to produce at reliable concentrations or when product composition varies substantially. Developing plant varieties and research materials that make rare cannabinoids more accessible and reproducible helps create a stronger foundation for future safety and efficacy studies.
Tonani’s contribution connects discovery science with the practical requirements of repeatable cannabinoid research: known genetics, analytical characterization, scalable production, and shareable data.
Jessica Tonani’s work reflects the Discovery Award by expanding the cannabinoid research toolkit and improving the consistency and openness needed to study less-understood compounds responsibly.
Learn more: Verda Bio
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“We are honored to be recognized for our role in advancing cannabis safety. At Verda Bio, we believe safety starts with science, and our goal has always been to help build the scientific foundation needed for cannabis to be understood, evaluated, and used responsibly. We love the mission of ASA and are grateful for the nomination.” |
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