Lakshmi Kotra, University of Toronto

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Toronto profile.

Medical Cannabis Osteoarthritis Demyelination Multiple Sclerosis Cannabinoid Based Medicine Internal Pilot Study Pain Randomized Controlled Trial

Latest papers

Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System in the Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis.
The Laryngoscope · 2025
The State of Synthetic Cannabinoid Medications for the Treatment of Pain.
CNS drugs · 2024

All 2 publications

Latest funding

The effectiveness of oral cannabis extracts for osteoarthritic pain: an internal pilot, placebo controlled, blinded randomized trial
CIHR · 2023 · Principal investigator
$378,676
Cannabis-based precision medicine for osteoarthritis therapy
CIHR · 2019 · Principal investigator
$750,000
Medical Cannabis Concentrates for Opioid Use Disorder
CIHR · 2019 · Co-investigator
$100,000

All 9 grants and awards

2 publications.

01

Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System in the Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Lee JJW, Hamour AF, Wihlidal JGJ, Lee JM, Monteiro E, Poduch E, Kotra L, Vescan AD

The Laryngoscope2025

DOI: 10.1002/lary.32191 PMID: 40260746

02

The State of Synthetic Cannabinoid Medications for the Treatment of Pain.

Maglaviceanu A, Peer M, Rockel J, Bonin RP, Fitzcharles MA, Ladha KS, Bhatia A, Leroux T, Kotra L, Kapoor M, Clarke H

CNS drugs2024

DOI: 10.1007/s40263-024-01098-9 PMID: 38951463

The effectiveness of oral cannabis extracts for osteoarthritic pain: an internal pilot, placebo controlled, blinded randomized trial

Principal investigatorCIHR2023Project Grant

Principal investigators: Clarke, Hance A; Balneaves, Lynda G; Fitzcharles, Mary-Ann; Karkouti, Keyvan; Kotra, Lakshmi P; Ladha, Karim

Keywords: Cannabinoid Based Medicine; Internal Pilot Study; Medical Cannabis; Osteoarthritis; Pain; Randomized Controlled Trial

$378,676

Cannabis-based precision medicine for osteoarthritis therapy

Principal investigatorCIHR2019Team Grant: Cannabis Research in Priority Areas - Arthritis Pain

Principal investigators: Clarke, Hance A; Leroux, Timothy; Kapoor, Mohit; Kotra, Lakshmi P

Keywords: Animal Models; Biomarkers; Cannabinoids; Chronic Pain; Medical Cannabis; Observational Cohort Study; Osteoarthritis; Precision Medicine

$750,000

Medical Cannabis Concentrates for Opioid Use Disorder

Co-investigatorCIHR2019Project Grant - PA: Cannabis priority research areas

Principal investigators: Clarke, Hance A; Ladha, Karim

Keywords: Cannabinoids; Cannabis Concentrates; Decrease Drug Use; Medical Cannabis; Neuropathic Pain; Opioid Management; Opioid Use Disorder; Pain Management; Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

$100,000

In vivo efficacy studies on KP-218 as a potential MS therapeutic agent

Nominated PICIHR2014Proof of Principle Program - Phase I

Principal investigators: Kotra, Lakshmi P

Keywords: Citrullination; Demyelination; Drug Discovery; In Vivo Efficacy Studies; Multiple Sclerosis

$160,000

Inhibitors of deiminases targeting demyelination

Nominated PICIHR2012Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Kotra, Lakshmi P

Keywords: Chemical Probes; Deimination; Demyelination; Molecular Interactions; Multiple Sclerosis

$360,524

Small Molecule Inhibitors of Phagocytosis as Replacement Therapy for IVIG

Co-investigatorCIHR2012Operating Grant - Priority Announcement: Blood Utilization and Conservation

Principal investigators: Branch, Donald R

Keywords: Drug Design For Treatment Of Immune Cytopenias

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a target for cholesterol lowering

Co-investigatorCIHR2011Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Pang, Kim-Ching S

Keywords: 1; 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3; Apoe; Cholesterol; Cytochrome P450 7a1; Farnesoid X Receptor; Fgp15 Knockout Mice; Fxr; Ldlr; Lithocholic Acid Derivatives; Molecular Modeling And Design; Regulation; Shp; Small Heterodimer Partner; Vitamin D Receptor

$554,877

Targeting UROD As A Novel Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Strategy

Co-investigatorCIHR2009Proof of Principle Program - Phase I

Principal investigators: Liu, Fei-Fei

Keywords: Anti-Cancer Therapy; Chemo-Sensitizer; Radiation Sensitizer; Small Molecular Inhibitor; Urod

$150,000

Development of interferon mimetics as broad spectrum antivirals

Principal investigatorCIHR2009Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Fish, Eleanor; Kotra, Lakshmi P

Keywords: Interferon; Medicinal Chemistry; Mimetic; Structure Activity Relationship; Viruses

$408,915

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Anesthesiology and Pain Management
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Orthopedics

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Hance Clarke

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Mohit Kapoor

Orthopedics

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Timothy Leroux

Anesthesiology and Pain Management

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Anuj Bhatia

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Medical Cannabis Dear Professor Kotra, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System in the Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis." (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "The effectiveness of oral cannabis extracts for osteoarthritic pain: an internal pilot, placebo controlled, blinded randomized trial" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]