Karen Wright

Dr. Karen Wright is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedicine at the University of Lancaster, affiliated with the Faculty of Health and Medicine and the Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the cannabinoid system in gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and colorectal cancer. She is pioneering a novel intestinal tissue culture model that accounts for physiological oxygen levels and energy sources, developed in collaboration with clinicians at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and involving patient and volunteer participation.

Key research interests include the role of endogenous cannabinoids in regulating intestinal inflammation, barrier function, and autophagy. She investigates how cannabinoid signaling interacts with other pathways to modulate cell behavior in inflammatory conditions. Her work emphasizes translational potential, aiming to identify therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal diseases.

Dr. Wright has supervised PhD student Daniel Baines and collaborates with researchers like John Worthington on ethical considerations in organoid research and cannabinoid effects on intestinal permeability. She actively engages in academic and public activities, including the Windermere Science Festival and the International Cannabinoid Research Society conferences.

Her publications span cannabinoid biology, hydrogel development for drug delivery, and interdisciplinary education. Notable projects include studies on cannabis-derived medicines and the impact of cannabinoids on free-living ciliates (in collaboration with Jackie Parry). She has secured funding for initiatives like the 'Impact of Cannabis strain extracts on IBD models' (2020–2023) and 'Proximity to Discovery: Industry Engagement for Impact' (2018–2019).

Dr. Wright's research bridges basic science and clinical applications, emphasizing patient involvement and ethical rigor in translational studies.