Cannabis use, stress hormones, and sleep in women of childbearing age
Official title: The role of stress physiology and reproductive hormones in the relationship between cannabis use and sleep in women of childbearing age
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11379547 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how recreational cannabis affects sleep in women who are of childbearing age, using detailed brain and body measurements over two months.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $431,482 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA061291-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379547 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women of childbearing age who use cannabis and have natural menstrual cycles.
✕Less likely to help
Non-pregnant men, postmenopausal women, or women with irregular cycles may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will enroll 100 cannabis-using women with natural menstrual cycles in a 60-day study to track sleep patterns, brain activity, and autonomic responses across different phases of the menstrual cycle. The study uses advanced sleep and physiological monitoring to understand how acute cannabis use interacts with stress systems and reproductive hormones to influence sleep. By examining multiple nights per participant and applying sophisticated statistical models, the team aims to map how cannabinoid effects on sleep may vary with hormonal context. The findings could clarify potential risks or considerations for women who use cannabis and rely on sleep quality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform safer cannabis use related to sleep for women and guide healthcare guidance during different hormonal phases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has explored cannabis and sleep but this study uniquely links nocturnal brain and autonomic physiology with menstrual-cycle phases.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spaeth, Andrea Marie — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Spaeth, Andrea Marie
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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.