Lumír Ondřej Hanuš
Encyclopedia
Lumír Ondřej Hanuš is a Czech
analytic chemist and leading authority in the field of cannabis research. In 1992, he and William Anthony Devane isolated and first described the structure of anandamide
, an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter
.
, in what was then Czechoslovakia
. He is a distant kindred of Czech chemist Josef Hanuš (1872–1955).
In 1966, Hanuš entered as a student the Faculty of Science of Palacký University of Olomouc. In 1970 professor Zdeněk Krejčí of the Faculty of Medicine's Department of hygiene and epidemiology (where the anti-bacterial effects of cannabis were described in 1955) needed an aid, and the undergraduate Hanuš started to work as Krejčí's assistant on research of cannabis and hashish in December of that year. There, Hanuš met also professors Jan Kabelík and František Šantavý, who together with Krejčí laid down the foundations to research of cannabis and its curative effects. From 1971, Hanuš grew for research purposes cannabis on two fields in the Research Institute of Vegetable Growing and Breeding in Olomouc. The extracts were used also at the Faculty Hospital Olomouc as a cure for aphthous ulcer
, herpes simplex
, herpes zoster
, and pressure ulcers.
Hanuš graduated as Master of Science in 1972 and continued academic career in Olomouc. In 1974 he obtained Doctorate in Science in Olomouc. He pursued his academic and research activities at Olomouc University until 1990. Hanuš also took part in research at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
and continued post-graduate research study at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Brno
(today Masaryk University
). In years 1978–1979 he worked as research associate of University of Mississippi
, focusing not only on cannabis, but also on coca leaves. He became associate professor
in organic chemistry in Olomouc in 1994 and obtained Doctorate of Sciences in pharmaceutical chemistry at Charles University in 1995.
Hanuš was for many years in contact with Israeli cannabis researcher Raphael Mechoulam
by letter. Following the Velvet Revolution
, Hanuš was invited to continue his research at Hebrew University in Israel
. In Israel, Hanuš and American molecular pharmacologist William Anthony Devane in 1992 first described the structure of Anandamide
, an endogenous cannabinoid
neurotransmitter
.
Hanuš continues his research in Jerusalem on cannabinoids, endocannabinoids and its derivatives.
According to Hanuš, alcohol and tobacco should be "black listed" rather than cannabis, as there is a possibility of both physical and psychological addiction to the first two, while there is no possibility of physical and only limited possibility of psychological addiction to marijuana. Moreover, people under influence of marijuana are not dangerous to others. He does not support smoking of marijuana because of the dangers of smoke inhalation. Hanuš is against uncontrolled use of marijuana, but he fully supports its use for medical purposes.
In April 2010 and September 2011, Hanuš took part in a seminar of Czech Parliament aimed at introduction of cannabinoid treatment.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
analytic chemist and leading authority in the field of cannabis research. In 1992, he and William Anthony Devane isolated and first described the structure of anandamide
Anandamide
Anandamide, also known as N-arachidonoylethanolamide or AEA, is an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter. The name is taken from the Sanskrit word ananda, which means "bliss, delight", and amide. It is synthesized from N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine by multiple pathways...
, an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. Neurotransmitters are packaged into synaptic vesicles clustered beneath the membrane on the presynaptic side of a synapse, and are released into the synaptic cleft, where they bind to...
.
Biography
Lumír Hanuš was born in 1947 in OlomoucOlomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, in what was then Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He is a distant kindred of Czech chemist Josef Hanuš (1872–1955).
In 1966, Hanuš entered as a student the Faculty of Science of Palacký University of Olomouc. In 1970 professor Zdeněk Krejčí of the Faculty of Medicine's Department of hygiene and epidemiology (where the anti-bacterial effects of cannabis were described in 1955) needed an aid, and the undergraduate Hanuš started to work as Krejčí's assistant on research of cannabis and hashish in December of that year. There, Hanuš met also professors Jan Kabelík and František Šantavý, who together with Krejčí laid down the foundations to research of cannabis and its curative effects. From 1971, Hanuš grew for research purposes cannabis on two fields in the Research Institute of Vegetable Growing and Breeding in Olomouc. The extracts were used also at the Faculty Hospital Olomouc as a cure for aphthous ulcer
Aphthous ulcer
An aphthous ulcer , also known as a canker sore, is a type of mouth ulcer which presents as a painful open sore inside the mouth or upper throat characterized by a break in the mucous membrane. Its cause is unknown, but they are not contagious...
, herpes simplex
Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex is a viral disease caused by both Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 . Infection with the herpes virus is categorized into one of several distinct disorders based on the site of infection. Oral herpes, the visible symptoms of which are colloquially called cold sores or fever...
, herpes zoster
Herpes zoster
Herpes zoster , commonly known as shingles and also known as zona, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a limited area on one side of the body, often in a stripe...
, and pressure ulcers.
Hanuš graduated as Master of Science in 1972 and continued academic career in Olomouc. In 1974 he obtained Doctorate in Science in Olomouc. He pursued his academic and research activities at Olomouc University until 1990. Hanuš also took part in research at the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences
The Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences was established in 1953 to be the scientific center for Czechoslovakia. It was succeeded by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 1992.-History:...
and continued post-graduate research study at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
(today Masaryk University
Masaryk University
Masaryk University is the second largest university in the Czech Republic, a member of the Compostela Group and the Utrecht Network. Founded in 1919 in Brno as the third Czech university , it now consists of nine faculties and 42,182 students...
). In years 1978–1979 he worked as research associate of University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, focusing not only on cannabis, but also on coca leaves. He became associate professor
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
in organic chemistry in Olomouc in 1994 and obtained Doctorate of Sciences in pharmaceutical chemistry at Charles University in 1995.
Hanuš was for many years in contact with Israeli cannabis researcher Raphael Mechoulam
Raphael Mechoulam
Raphael Mechoulam is an Israeli professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel...
by letter. Following the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, Hanuš was invited to continue his research at Hebrew University in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. In Israel, Hanuš and American molecular pharmacologist William Anthony Devane in 1992 first described the structure of Anandamide
Anandamide
Anandamide, also known as N-arachidonoylethanolamide or AEA, is an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter. The name is taken from the Sanskrit word ananda, which means "bliss, delight", and amide. It is synthesized from N-arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine by multiple pathways...
, an endogenous cannabinoid
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are a class of chemical compounds that include the phytocannabinoids , and chemical compounds that mimic the actions of phytocannabinoids or have a similar structure...
neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. Neurotransmitters are packaged into synaptic vesicles clustered beneath the membrane on the presynaptic side of a synapse, and are released into the synaptic cleft, where they bind to...
.
Hanuš continues his research in Jerusalem on cannabinoids, endocannabinoids and its derivatives.
Views on cannabis
Hanuš marks cannabis as "one of the safest known medications".According to Hanuš, alcohol and tobacco should be "black listed" rather than cannabis, as there is a possibility of both physical and psychological addiction to the first two, while there is no possibility of physical and only limited possibility of psychological addiction to marijuana. Moreover, people under influence of marijuana are not dangerous to others. He does not support smoking of marijuana because of the dangers of smoke inhalation. Hanuš is against uncontrolled use of marijuana, but he fully supports its use for medical purposes.
In April 2010 and September 2011, Hanuš took part in a seminar of Czech Parliament aimed at introduction of cannabinoid treatment.
Awards
- September 14, 2005: Hanuš Medal (The Czech Chemical Society in Prague) for the furthering creditable work in the fields of chemistry.
- November 6, 2006: Memorial Medal (Rector of the Palacký University of Olomouc) to 50th anniversary of revival and reopening of the University in OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
at the occasion of delivering 13th annual lecture to the honour of J. L. Fischer - April 12, 2007: Doctor honoris causa (Masaryk UniversityMasaryk UniversityMasaryk University is the second largest university in the Czech Republic, a member of the Compostela Group and the Utrecht Network. Founded in 1919 in Brno as the third Czech university , it now consists of nine faculties and 42,182 students...
in BrnoBrnoBrno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
) - 2009: nominated for the National Award of the Czech Government Czech Mind (Česká hlava)
- 2010: nominated for the Patria Award in the Czech Republic
- 2010: nominated for The 2010 Jack Herer Award Outstanding Hemp Awareness in the field of Medicine
- April 26, 2010: Outstanding Immigrant Scientist (1990-2010) for his contribution to the State of IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Ministery of Immigrant Absorption, Israel - May 4, 2011: Doctor honoris causa (Palacký University of Olomouc)
External links
- Dr. Lumir Hanus, Hebrew University of Jerusalem – Faculty of Medicine
- A poem performed by Lumír Hanuš in MoraviaMoraviaMoravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
n dialect, youtube.com