Investigating alcohol and cannabis use before and during pregnancy
Official title: Parental alcohol and cannabis before and during pregnancy: a pilot study
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10951450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how moms and dads use alcohol and cannabis before and during pregnancy to see how it might affect the baby’s development, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding the risks of these substances during this important time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $187,143 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AA031765-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10951450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals and their partners who have used alcohol or cannabis before or during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not used alcohol or cannabis during the relevant time periods may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand the patterns of alcohol and cannabis use among individuals before and during pregnancy, including the biological fathers. It will gather data on how these substances are used together and their potential effects on fetal development. The study will focus on both maternal and paternal substance use to assess risks associated with prenatal exposure. By collecting this information, the research seeks to lay the groundwork for a larger study in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention of adverse outcomes in pregnancies affected by substance use.
How similar studies have gone: While there is evidence from animal models regarding the risks of co-exposure to alcohol and cannabis, this specific investigation in pregnant populations is novel and has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bandoli, Gretchen E. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Bandoli, Gretchen E.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How pregnant women use cannabis and other substances across pregnancy
This project looks at how women use cannabis before and during pregnancy and how patterns vary by who they are and by local policies, using health records from Kaiser Permanente to understand potential health impacts.
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Trajectories of Cannabis Use in Pregnancy
This study follows pregnant people to understand how cannabis use patterns change across pregnancy and how those patterns relate to birth outcomes and child development.
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Parental alcohol and cannabis use before, during, and after pregnancy
This project looks at how pregnant people and their partners use alcohol and cannabis before, during, and after pregnancy to learn about timing and patterns of co-use.
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How cannabis use changes during pregnancy
This project will follow pregnant people who use cannabis to track how their use changes across pregnancy and identify factors linked to those patterns.
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How pregnant people use cannabis (smoking, vaping, edibles) and other substances
This project looks at the ways pregnant people use different cannabis products and other drugs before and during pregnancy and how those patterns relate to quitting and health outcomes.
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How women use cannabis before and during pregnancy
This study looks at how women use cannabis before and during pregnancy, including different ways they consume it like vaping or eating edibles, to see how this varies with their backgrounds and local laws, and how it might affect their health and their baby's health.
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.