Can AI Solve Cannabis Medicine's Data Problem? New Tech Initiative Aims To Streamline Research And Treatments

Kanavos Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with Graphwise, a global leader in semantic AI technologies, and HomeLab, a prominent biotech accelerator based at UC San Diego, to develop the Cannabis Knowledge Graph.

Graphwise, known for its expertise in creating advanced knowledge graph solutions, brings a deep understanding of data organization and AI-powered insights, making it an ideal partner for this initiative. HomeLab, a key player in fostering biotech innovation, has supported more than 50 startups and helped raise more than $1.5 billion in funding, positioning it as a trusted hub for life sciences innovation.

The Cannabis Knowledge Graph, aimed at providing patients and healthcare providers with accessible, evidence-based insights into cannabinoid therapies, was unveiled this week in San Francisco, coinciding with the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference taking place in the city. This announcement represents a significant step toward addressing the fragmented state of cannabis research and empowering more informed treatment decisions.

A New Approach To Cannabis Medicine

The Cannabis Knowledge Graph is still under development, but its goals are clear: to provide cannabis patients a unified source to discover scientific evidenced based therapeutics empowering personalized actionable decisions, consolidate clinical trials, preclinical research and real-world evidence into a unified resource. By leveraging Graphwise's Semantic AI technology, Kanavos aims to create a tool that provides actionable, personalized insights to patients and providers navigating cannabinoid-based medicine.

At its core, a knowledge graph is a data structure that organizes information by mapping relationships between entities. In the context of cannabis medicine, this means connecting diverse data sources—such as scientific evidence-based research with provenance, clinical trials, and patient outcomes—to reveal meaningful patterns and actionable insights. Unlike traditional databases, which simply store information, a Semantic AI knowledge graph enables AI systems to interpret and understand the meaning behind human language, concepts and data. This allows for a deeper understanding of how data points are interconnected, making it particularly valuable for complex fields like healthcare.

"This partnership with Graphwise marks a significant milestone for patients seeking to leverage the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids," said Dr. Deborah McGuinness, chief knowledge officer at Kanavos. "By combining our deep domain expertise with Graphwise's leading-edge technology, we are empowering individuals with the knowledge and insights they need to make informed healthcare decisions."

Addressing Critical Industry Challenges

The fragmented nature of cannabis research has long been a challenge for patients and providers. The Cannabis Knowledge Graph seeks to address this by organizing and contextualizing data, enabling users to compare therapeutic options and make more informed decisions. Unlike generative AI tools, the platform focuses on understanding relationships in data to deliver meaningful insights.

"By connecting disparate data sources – from Open LinkedLife Data to 80 million research publications, clinical trials to real-world evidence with provenance – we can unlock invaluable insights and empower patients with the information they need to make informed healthcare decisions," said Antanas Kiryakov, president of Graphwise.

The Road Ahead

Kanavos’ partnerships include licenses for adult-use cannabis and DEA Schedule 1 drug manufacturing for research and development, positioning the company to explore novel therapeutic applications for cannabinoids as the Cannabis Knowledge Graph takes shape. This initiative is part of a broader trend of applying advanced semantic AI technologies to life sciences, healthcare and the wellness industries. The goal is to legitimize and expand the use of cannabinoids in therapeutic settings through rigorous data integration and actionable insights.

By building this platform, Kanavos is contributing to the broader adoption of data-driven solutions in healthcare. The company's collaborations with Graphwise and HomeLab aim to address challenges in cannabis research and facilitate advancements in cannabinoid-based medicine.

Cover image made with AI