() (OTC:AUSAF) (FRA:AC4) has appointed Jason Dyck, director of the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the University of Alberta, as its new chief science officer and chairman of its scientific advisory board, the company announced. 

Dyck has a wealth of experience leading cannabis-related medical research and has deep connections and high standing in the industry, the company said. He previously led the research and science team at Aurora Cannabis Inc (NYSE:ACB) (TSE:ACB) (FRA:21P1) in its formative years, playing a significant role in helping it become the medical cannabis industry leader that it is today, Australis said. 

The company’s appointments strategy is to leverage the roots of its management team in medical cannabis, while developing offerings and partnerships aimed at the medical and wellness markets. 

READ: Australis Capital completes first phase of Green Therapeutics acquisition with cannabis subsidiary purchase

Dyck also established and co-directs a province-wide clinical heart failure research program called Alberta HEART that is a translational research program in heart failure. 

"We believe that Jason's capabilities and connections in medical science and the cannabis industry will prove tremendous assets for the company as we look to develop commercially valuable innovations for the medical, wellness and adult-use markets,” COO Duke Fu said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Jason as we take AUSA's scientific efforts to the next level."

Additionally, a component of Dyck's research at the University of Alberta involves the study of medical cannabis users, and he has established the world's largest known medical cannabis database of more than 160,000 patients linked to comprehensive provincial administrative health data. 

This type of database is being used to determine how medical cannabis-use influences use of other medications, health insurance claims, acute and ambulatory care episodes, accident claims and other key health outcomes, the company said. 

"I am very excited about taking on this new responsibility at AUSA,” Dyck said. “We believe that medical science will play an increasingly important role in the development of the cannabis industry. I look forward to providing AUSA with advice and direction in its scientific efforts towards bringing innovations to market with immediate and significant commercial appeal.”

In the newly-created chief science officer position, Dyck will lead the Australis’ scientific efforts regarding medical and wellness applications for cannabis, both THC and CBD, and play a role in identifying and vetting partnership opportunities with medical and science-based innovators. 

Meanwhile, the scientific advisory board’s mandate will be to provide advice, analysis and direction related to the scientific investigation, development and market implementation of cannabis products.

Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com

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