Tibor Béres: Helping people with his research

Tibor Béres spent quite a long time looking for “his topic” in research but finally found it in research on medical cannabis. Originally a biologist, he has gradually switched to phytochemistry since about 2015. He considers that this area offers many opportunities for applied research, which he prefers. He would like to take at least some of his results forward toward practical use, for example in the form of a medical product.

“We produce cannabis extracts and, in cooperation with partners, we test their biological activity. From a phytochemical point of view, there is a great chance of success. Cannabis contains different substances, and many of them may be biologically active, and therefore potentially useful for medicinal purposes,” said the researcher.

Although cannabis has been considered for medicinal purposes for many years, many aspects of its use are still unexplored. For example, current legislation allows for the indication of medicinal cannabis in surface treatments in dermatology. However, in practice, this application is hampered by the lack of a standardised procedure for the preparation of dermal dosage forms in pharmacies. This is precisely what scientists at CATRIN decided to change by developing a potentially feasible procedure and publishing it in a peer-reviewed journal. “Although there are other options, I hope that the procedure I was involved in developing will start to be used in practice. I consider this my greatest scientific achievement so far,” added Béres, who moved to Olomouc after completing his master’s degree in Košice and stayed. His route to CATRIN took him through the Growth Regulator Laboratory and CRH. He has been on internships abroad in Austria and Sweden.

In addition to research, he is also involved in popularising science to raise awareness of cannabis and its potential uses and contribute toward destigmatising this medicinal plant.