Cannabis use and HIV: how pot may affect aging and HIV outcomes
Official title: Quantifying health effects of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder on geriatric syndromes and HIV outcomes: causal effects analysis in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study and the Mt. Sinai HIV Cohort
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11371946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A big study will look at how cannabis use and cannabis use disorder affect older people with HIV, including how it relates to aging problems and HIV treatment success.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $732,747 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA063053-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults living with HIV who may have cannabis exposure or cannabis use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, younger individuals, or those not using cannabis are less likely to benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project will use large electronic health record data from veterans with HIV to examine whether cannabis use and cannabis use disorder are linked to geriatric problems like falls, fractures, delirium, and dementia, as well as HIV treatment success and adherence. By applying advanced causal-analysis methods, the team aims to understand the potential impact of cannabis exposure on health outcomes over time. The work leverages existing cohorts and clinical data to generate insights that could guide safer cannabis policies and care for aging people living with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform clinical guidance and policies to reduce harms and improve HIV treatment outcomes for aging individuals who use cannabis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research using electronic health records has yielded insights into substance use and HIV outcomes, but causal questions in aging PWH are still expanding.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haley, Danielle Frances — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Haley, Danielle Frances
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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.