ANNOUNCEMENT

NOBEL PRIZE 2026

This year's laureates, their fields, and the discoveries that earned them the prize.Live nowSee the winners
Moonbase
← Back to Awards
NIHNATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSER01

Cannabis, HIV and Mental Processing Systems (CHAMPS)

Completed
Institution
Washington University, MO
Principal investigator
Beau M Ances
Funding
$544K
Duration
2021–2026
Open portfolio

Moonbase score

Still being scored

Abstract

ABSTRACT/PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal employs novel methods to identify key determinants and consequences of concurrent HIV infection and regular cannabis use. We will acquire extensive phenotype data from peripheral and brain markers of immune activation, brain structure, and neuropsychological performance (NP) in persons living with HIV (PLWH) receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users) and HIV uninfected (HIV-) controls (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users). Our overall hypothesis is that cannabis use leads to increases in inflammation in the peripheral and brain compartments. We also hypothesize that phenotypic signatures due to regular cannabis use and HIV will be delineated through NP and brain volumetrics. In Aim 1 we hypothesize that regular cannabis use will increase both peripheral and brain immune indices in PLWH on cART. In Aim 2 we hypothesize that regular cannabis use will lead to a worsening of NP and reductions in brain volumetrics in both PLWH on cART and HIV- controls. This proposal will provide key insights into the effects of regular cannabis and HIV on peripheral and brain markers of immune function and NP in PLWH and HIV- controls. These insights are critical for cure strategies and ongoing HIV treatment initiatives.

Research team

  • Beau M AncesPI
  • Tricia Helen BurdoPI

LOADING MOONBASE SCORE

R01NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSESpecial Emphasis Panel[ZRG1-AARR-B(02)M]peripheralregularcannabis usecartaim hypothesizecannabisplwhhiv

Questions for Washington University

Answered by the team behind this research.

No questions yet. Sign in to ask the first one

Related grants

Same researchers, same institution, same topic, scored first.