How cannabis use during pregnancy may affect fetal brain development
Prenatal cannabis: A fetal neuroimaging study of neurodevelopment
This project follows pregnant people who did and did not use cannabis in early pregnancy to see whether it changes fetal brain growth and babies' thinking and behavior in the first two years of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11119001 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will enroll pregnant people with and without cannabis use in the first trimester and collect detailed self-reports and biological samples about substance use. They will perform fetal MRI in the third trimester to look at brain structure and function before birth. After delivery, babies will be followed for two years with parent reports and lab-based tests of early thinking, behavior, and attention. The team will also measure maternal mood and postnatal environment to help separate prenatal cannabis effects from other influences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people in their first trimester, including those who used cannabis during early pregnancy and those who did not, are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or those whose exposure occurred only after the first trimester would not be eligible and would not benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify risks to infant brain and behavior from prenatal cannabis and inform safer guidance for pregnant people.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research on prenatal cannabis is limited and mixed, and combining third-trimester fetal MRI with two-year developmental follow-up is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Posner, Jonathan E — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Posner, Jonathan E
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 below.