How marijuana use during pregnancy may change a child's brain development
Impact of maternal marijuana use on epigenetic regulation of offspring neurodevelopment
This work looks at whether using marijuana during pregnancy changes how a child's genes are switched on in ways that affect brain growth and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172424 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're pregnant, this research focuses on whether maternal marijuana (THC) exposure alters chemical 'switches' on genes in the placenta and developing brain. Researchers will examine placental tissue and brain-related measures to map epigenetic changes tied to prenatal THC exposure. They plan to follow how those molecular changes unfold over time and connect them to later patterns of attention, learning, or addiction risk. Findings will come from laboratory analyses and from samples or follow-up information collected from mothers and their children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be pregnant people who used marijuana during pregnancy and their newborns or infants for placental or developmental follow-up.
Not a fit: People who did not use marijuana during pregnancy or adults without prenatal exposure are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify biological links between prenatal marijuana exposure and risks like ADHD, autism, or cognitive problems, helping guide pregnancy health advice.
How similar studies have performed: Some early studies have shown epigenetic changes after prenatal cannabis exposure, but clear mechanistic explanations and long-term human data remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lo, Jamie — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Lo, Jamie
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.