Effects of cannabis use on brain function in depressed teenagers
Official title: Neural and Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabis Use in Adolescents
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11194364 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using cannabis affects the brains of teenagers with depression, especially in areas that deal with feelings of reward and pain, to see if it might make their depression worse over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $691,176 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059527-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194364 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are experiencing depression and have a history of cannabis use.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use cannabis or are not experiencing depression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how cannabis, the most commonly used illicit drug among teenagers, affects brain circuits related to reward and pain in adolescents suffering from depression. It aims to understand the long-term impacts of cannabis use on these neurocircuits, particularly focusing on the habenula, a brain region involved in regulating reward and pain responses. By studying adolescents who use cannabis to self-medicate their depression, the research seeks to fill a critical gap in understanding how cannabis may worsen depression and lead to chronicity. Advanced imaging techniques will be employed to observe changes in brain function over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and treatment strategies for adolescents with depression who use cannabis.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been limited research specifically on cannabis use in depressed adolescents, studies on cannabis effects in other populations suggest potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gabbay, Vilma — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Gabbay, Vilma
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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.