November 14 2017
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI), the leading provider of cannabis testing instruments, and Northern Michigan University (NMU) announce a collaborative relationship in support of NMU’s new 4-year undergraduate degree program in Medicinal Plant Chemistry. This program is intended to complement the emerging cannabis economy with a specific focus on laboratory analysis, experimental horticulture, and entrepreneurship.
To help NMU initiate this program, SSI awarded a grant to enable the purchase of a triple quadrupole Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (LCMS). LCMS is the standard for natural products chemistry and for the analysis of secondary metabolite compounds in extracts of plant material. Triple quad LCMS offers additional quantitative analysis capabilities, and will provide students with hands-on opportunities to utilize an instrumental technique widely used in the medicinal cannabis industry. Specific real-world applications include comprehensive screening of residual pesticides and analysis of mycotoxins.
“Shimadzu has long been recognized as an authority and innovator in the field of chemical analysis, and has emerged as an early leader in the specific area of cannabis analysis,” said Brandon Canfield, an associate professor of chemistry at NMU. “We are honored that they have chosen to recognize our new Medicinal Plant Chemistry program as a valuable contribution toward the further development of this area of study and industry, and excited to know that our undergraduate students will have the opportunity to gain direct hands-on experience with such advanced instrumentation.”
“Over the last few years, the medicinal cannabis industry has grown significantly throughout the country. This growth has sparked a need for highly skilled scientists to run instruments to ensure products meet regulatory requirements,” said Bob Clifford, Ph.D., general manager of marketing, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments. “Northern Michigan University emerges as a leader in educating these future laboratory analysts and managers, and Shimadzu is proud to work with them in this exciting, emerging industry.”