Astrid Dispensary founder and CEO Lisa Nguyen has been appointed to Levin Health's medical advisory board, joining existing members Dr James Stewart, Dr Debbie Herbst, Professor Bruce Mitchell and Dr Harry Unglik.
Established in Melbourne in 2020, specialist pharmacy Astrid has a team of more than 20 staff and has facilitated medicinal cannabis access for over 10,000 patients since opening its doors.
Nguyen said: "I'm incredibly passionate about finding more ways to help break down the lasting stigma [surrounding] medicinal cannabis and for it to be recognised and accepted widely across Australia as a natural treatment option."
"Levin Health has a wonderful team of scientists and doctors on board to provide world-leading trials and research in this space. They're working hard at breaking down the stigma every day."
Levin Health managing director Mark Brayshaw said Nguyen's expertise and background would be a valuable asset to the advisory board.
He added: "Providing research and education through evidence-based trials and real-world cases is crucial to our endeavours in ensuring potential patients have access and understand the research and advice available for medicinal cannabis."
Earlier this year, the sports science company secured ethics approval for a clinical trial conducted in partnership with La Trobe University's Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, which examines how effective medicinal cannabis is in treating chronic pain in people recovering from musculoskeletal injuries.
The company also has a high-profile sports advisory board that includes NRL great Andrew Johns, Basketball Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson, AFL coaches Alastair Clarkson and Damien Hardwick, and champion jockey Damien Oliver.
