Q&A with Dr. Rana Zeine: Medical Cannabis Research for Cancer, MS, Epilepsy & More

Dr. Rana Zeine, with three decades of experience in primary research on brain diseases and cancer, along with eight years in secondary research on the effects of medical cannabis, is one of the lead experts behind the book Medical Cannabis and the Effects of Cannabinoids on Fighting Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Parkinson's, and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases (ISBN: 9781668456521). Since the book's release, Dr. Zeine has spoken about her research at several events. Most recently, she was a Guest Speaker at the SALIHIN Corporate Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, providing insights and background related to the book. See below, where she answers some of our questions about the conception of this
research book.

Dr. Zeine: The driving force for starting this book was the anticipation that president Joe Biden was planning to legalize the use of medical cannabis in the USA. IGI Global publisher envisioned creating a scientific book that presents the latest knowledge on the properties and effects of medical cannabis available from around the world.

Dr. Zeine: The book specifically addresses the efficacy and mechanisms of action of medical cannabis for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, demyelinative diseases and cancers.

Dr. Zeine: The book provides an overview of the medicinal uses of cannabis throughout history, the biochemical properties of the endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids found in Cannabis and cannabimimetic plants, analysis of the clinical benefits observed in patients and experimental models, synthesis of the cellular and molecular mechanisms implicated in anti-inflammatory, anti-seizure, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, regenerative and remyelinative effects of cannabinoids.

Dr. Zeine: This is the first scientific book about medical cannabis in the modern era of medicine. Publishing this book helps governments around the world to recognize the potential benefits of cannabis in modern medicine and guides future pharmacologic research to develop new medicines for healing human diseases. It is a rich resource for scientists who wish to write grants to seek funding for academic research, for physicians who wish to prescribe cannabis, and for publishers who plan to include medical cannabis in textbooks of physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, pathology, immunology, neurology, psychiatry and oncology.

Dr. Zeine: Prior to working on this book, I had published systematic review articles on the benefits of medical cannabis in movement disorders, including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases, and in the inflammatory demyelinative disease Multiple Sclerosis. My professional background includes specialization in pathology and neuropathology, and basic medical research in neuroimmunology and cancer pathology.

Dr. Zeine: During my career, I have been involved with various specialized organizations, which have helped me gain expertise in the topics covered in this book. I have been a member of the Society of Experimental Biology & Medicine since 2023 and have actively participated in the International Society of Neuroimmunology since 2019. These memberships have given me valuable insights into these fields' latest research and developments. Additionally, my affiliation with the International Higher Education Teaching & Learning Association since 2011 has improved my teaching skills, making me more effective at sharing knowledge. Having been a member of the International Society of Neuropathologists since 2004 and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology since 2000, I have developed a thorough understanding of neuropathology and related subjects, contributing to my comprehensive knowledge of the topics covered in this book.

Rana Zeine, MD, PhD, MBA is Adjunct Faculty at Kean University Department of Biological Sciences (1/2020-present), and Union College of Union County STEM-Biology (9/2023-present) Union, New Jersey, USA, and also Visiting Professor III at Chamberlain University College of Nursing (10/2021-present), North Brunswick, NJ, USA. She teaches Immunology, Microbiology, Biological Aspects of Aging, Genetics, Anatomy & Physiology, Human Biology Lab, Biology of Cancer, Independent Research, Senior Seminars and formerly taught Pathology at the Saint James School of Medicine. Dr. Zeine received her B.S. in Biology ’83, Teaching Diploma '83, and M.D. ’87 degrees from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. She completed elective rotations in neurogenetics and neuropediatrics at The Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, '86, Boston, MA, USA. Dr. Zeine was awarded Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada fellowships and earned her Ph.D. ‘93 degree in Experimental Medicine from McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. She completed her residency in Anatomic Pathology '00-'02 and subspecialty fellowship in Neuropathology '02-'04 at the Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NYC, USA. Dr. Zeine also earned an M.B.A. ’12, concentration Human Resources Management, with Distinction, from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry College of New York, NYC, USA. She is accredited (’21) in Organizational Culture (OCI) and Organizational Effectiveness (OEI) inventories by Human Synergistics International, MI, USA. In Ontario, Canada, she held a research associate position in Neurology at the Ottawa University ('95-'98). In the Bronx, she was research associate in Neuropathology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine ('98-'00), and later joined the New York State Foundation for Psychiatric Research as research scientist at the Nathan S. Kline Institute Dementia Center ('04-'05). At Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA, Dr. Zeine was research assistant professor (’06-’07) at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and later associate director for operation standards and correlative sciences at the Pathology Core Facility (’08) serving the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, NCI, USA. Dr. At the University of Chicago, she continued as research faculty on neuroblastoma tumors in pediatric hematology-oncology (’07-’08). At the Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM), IL, USA, Dr. Zeine taught pathology and research in health and medicine, first as assistant professor in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean ('13-'14), and later as associate professor in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Eastern Caribbean (’14-‘19). She chaired Quality Assurance and Research committees, and was secretary for Curriculum and Faculty Affairs committees. She was also associate professor at St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine, Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean (’14). She held workshops on motivational interviewing and breaking bad news, and hosted 12 Science Day events as Science Day coordinator. Her publications span multiple disciplines including effector T cell migration and retention in Experimental Autoimmune (Allergic) Encephalomyelitis, Perforin-mediated gamma-delta T cell cytotoxicity against human Oligodendrocytes in Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer-Associated-Fibroblasts and Microvascular Proliferation in neuroblastoma tumors, joint mobility in sedentary versus active adults, Cyberchondria determinants and impact on patient compliance, Medical Cannabis for Huntington Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, and Cancers, Congenital Zika Syndrome, organizational behavior in higher education institutions, considerate leadership, external adaptability, mission articulation, customer service focus, employee involvement, empowerment, distribution of influence, total influence, task facilitation, interaction facilitation, job-related stress, motivation and job-satisfaction, personal bases of power and organizational bases of power. Dr. Zeine was included in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America, and has been awarded Teacher Appreciation Recognition from the SGA, Advisor Appreciation Recognition from AMSA, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Accomplishments at SJSM, 8/2019, Emerald Literati Awards for Excellence Outstanding Reviewer (’19) and Outstanding Paper (’21), and Certificate of Appreciation for Community Expertise Mentor from Occupational Therapy (’22) at Kean University, NJ, USA. Currently, Dr. Zeine serves as editorial adviser on textbook materials for Oxford University Press and Macmillan Learning publisher. In 2023, Dr. Zeine released the first scientific book on medical cannabis which she presented to physicians at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, entitled Zeine R. & Teasdale, B. (Editors). Medical Cannabis and the Effects of Cannabinoids on Fighting Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Parkinsons and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases. Book, ©2023 IGI Global Publisher, Hershey, PA, USA, pp. 406., and hosted an online FASEB Catalyst Conference entitled Cannabis Mechanisms in Experimental Medicine, attended by participants from 25 countries. On May 2024, Dr. Zeine was invited to speak on Medical Cannabis to an audience in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Dr. Brian W. Teasdale received his M.S. in Botany from the University of South Florida in 1998 and his Ph.D. in Plant Biology at the University of New Hampshire in 2004. After spending two years at Jacksonville University, he moved to Kean University in 2006 where he has remained and currently serves as both faculty and the Associate Dean of the Dorothy & George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology. He specializes in molecular genetics, population genetics, phycology, and medicinal plants. In addition to teaching a specialized course on Cannabis he has worked as a resource in Cannabis biology for the New Jersey Traffic Safety program.

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