How heavy cannabis use may affect thinking and use of PrEP in young people
Official title: Heavy cannabis use, neurocognition and PrEP care engagement among young people
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11390927 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether heavy cannabis use changes young people's thinking, sexual behavior, and whether they start and stay on PrEP.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $913,981 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057351-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390927 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young people who use cannabis heavily and are at risk for HIV or considering PrEP, particularly those reachable through South Side Chicago prevention programs, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not use cannabis, are not at risk for HIV, or live far outside the study area are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would be asked about your cannabis use, sexual behavior, and experiences with HIV prevention and PrEP, and complete thinking and decision-making tests that measure risk/reward and executive function. The team will combine these tests with surveys and clinic data from local health department HIV prevention programs on the South Side of Chicago. Researchers will analyze whether cannabis-related changes in brain function help explain lower HIV testing and gaps in starting or staying on PrEP. The goal is to link patterns of use and motivations for cannabis consumption to real-world PrEP engagement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help tailor HIV prevention and PrEP support to young people who use cannabis heavily so they get more effective help to prevent HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research links heavy cannabis use to higher HIV risk and to some cognitive changes, but using neurocognitive measures to explain PrEP engagement is a newer approach with limited prior proof.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schneider, John — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Schneider, John
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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.