Cannabis and the Brain's Protective Barrier in HIV
Official title: Molecular effects of cannabinoids on the Blood Brain Barrier in HIV-infected brain
Funded at San Diego Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11166354 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how cannabis might affect the brain's protective barrier in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $808,747 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059344-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166354 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant to individuals living with HIV, especially those who use cannabis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or those not using cannabis may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
HIV can damage the brain by disrupting its protective barrier, leading to inflammation and persistent infection, even with current treatments. Interestingly, while cannabis might weaken this barrier in healthy individuals, early observations suggest it could actually improve the barrier in people with HIV. This project aims to understand exactly how cannabis influences the brain's barrier and inflammation in HIV, which could help us learn more about its effects on brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a better understanding of how cannabis use impacts brain health in people with HIV, potentially guiding future treatment strategies or patient advice.
How similar studies have gone: While cannabis is commonly used by people with HIV, the specific observation about its context-dependent effects on the blood-brain barrier is a recent and important finding that this project aims to mechanistically explain.
Where this research is happening
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San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marcondes, Maria Cecilia Garibaldi — San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Marcondes, Maria Cecilia Garibaldi
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.