Cannabis Use and Heart Rhythms in College Students
Official title: Cannabis Nexus Initiative II: Cannabis and Heart Rate Variability Study in HBCU Students
Funded at Virginia State University · NIH-11043911 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how chronic cannabis use affects heart rhythms in young men and women, especially college students.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Petersburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $420,388 |
| NIH project number | 2R15DA052886-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043911 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be college students, both male and female, who either use cannabis regularly or do not use substances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not college students or do not fall into the specified cannabis use categories would not directly benefit from participating in this specific research.
What this research studies
The project aims to understand how long-term cannabis use affects heart health, specifically heart rate variability, in young men and women. Researchers will gather information on cannabis use patterns and use special devices, including a Heart Rhythm Scanner and wearable watches, to measure heart rate variability both at rest and over 24 hours. This will help us see if there are differences in heart health between students who use cannabis regularly and those who do not, and if these differences vary by sex.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand the risks of cannabis use on heart health, especially for young adults, and inform health recommendations.
How similar studies have gone: While previous research has linked cannabis use to cardiovascular events, this project is novel in its specific focus on chronic cannabis use and autonomic health (heart rate variability) in young males and females, particularly college students.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia State University
Petersburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keen, Larry D — Virginia State University
- Study coordinator: Keen, Larry D
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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.