Ankit Balhara, a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, is this month’s Drug Metabolism and Disposition Highlighted Trainee Author.  

The article that earned him the selection is titled “Cannabidiol and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol induce drug-metabolizing enzymes, but not transporters, in human hepatocytes: Implications for predicting complex cannabinoid–drug interactions” and is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dmd.2025.100037. 

Despite the growing popularity in using cannabinoids in clinical pharmacology, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding their potential to induce drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. “By bridging this gap, my work has the potential to enhance drug safety, optimize therapeutic regimens, and protect patients from unintended adverse effects, ultimately shaping the future of cannabinoid-based therapies,” he shares.