Biography
Amir joined the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London in 2011 when he began his PhD in cannabinoid psychopharmacology. During his PhD he studied the effects of the most common cannabis compounds (cannabinoids), THC, CBD and THCV – in healthy human volunteers. His thesis reported on the cognitive, psychological, and neurophysiological effects of these compounds both in isolation and when combined.
Since completing his PhD, he has been involved in clinical trials of CBD as an add-on treatment to schizophrenia, and most recently a large experimental study exploring if cannabis with higher CBD:THC ratios are safer than cannabis containing only THC.
Research Interests
- Cannabis
- Cannabinoid psychopharmacology
- Cannabis addiction
- Harms of cannabis use
- Medicinal effects of cannabis
Expertise & Public Engagement
- BBC Two - Horizon, 2019, Cannabis: Miracle Medicine or Dangerous Drug?
- Cannabis: The science behind super-strength skunk. (2018, February 28). BBC News.
- Can we make cannabis safer? The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(8), 643–648.
- Don’t smoke it with tobacco: Scientists suggest ways to make cannabis safer. The Guardian.
Research
Drugs Research Group
Substance misuse research within the Addictions Department is led by Professors John Strang and John Marsden.
News
£1.4 million awarded to study how brain experiences paranoia
The project "Bridging the Neurocomputational Explanations of Paranoia: From Cognition to Clinic" received the Wellcome Trust grant to apply neuroscience to...
Dr Amir Englund is awarded the ACNP Neuropsychopharmacology Editors' Award for a Transformative Original Report
The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology NEATOR Award was presented to Dr Englund at a ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona on 9 December.
Cannabis intoxication triggers cognitive mechanism of addiction
Researchers suggest that the main component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), could underpin the cognitive mechanisms behind cannabis use...
Cannabis not made safer by increasing its CBD content
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found no evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) reduces...
Research
Drugs Research Group
Substance misuse research within the Addictions Department is led by Professors John Strang and John Marsden.
News
£1.4 million awarded to study how brain experiences paranoia
The project "Bridging the Neurocomputational Explanations of Paranoia: From Cognition to Clinic" received the Wellcome Trust grant to apply neuroscience to...
Dr Amir Englund is awarded the ACNP Neuropsychopharmacology Editors' Award for a Transformative Original Report
The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology NEATOR Award was presented to Dr Englund at a ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona on 9 December.
Cannabis intoxication triggers cognitive mechanism of addiction
Researchers suggest that the main component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), could underpin the cognitive mechanisms behind cannabis use...
Cannabis not made safer by increasing its CBD content
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found no evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) reduces...