Understanding how cannabis use and genes change the brain to increase depression risk
Official title: Functional convergence following disruption of diverse genes associated with cannabis use and major depression
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11395269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Yale is exploring how cannabis use might change specific brain cells and genes, potentially making people more vulnerable to depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $441,000 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1DA060811-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with cannabis use disorder, with or without major depressive disorder, or neurotypical controls, from whom brain tissue or related data can be analyzed.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to brain tissue data or related analyses are unlikely to directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Researchers will study postmortem brain tissue from donors with cannabis use disorder, depression, and controls to map cell-type-specific genetic and epigenetic changes in two brain regions. They will connect these molecular changes to signals that relate to depression risk and use human iPSC-derived brain organoids to test the function of candidate genes. The study combines single-cell genomics with targeted genetic approaches to link cannabis-associated genetic signals to brain biology relevant to mood disorders. By focusing on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum, the project aims to identify mechanisms that could be targeted for future therapies. The work is exploratory but designed to build a foundation for understanding how cannabis exposure may influence the development of major depressive disorder at the cellular level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This research could identify molecular targets that inform new treatments or prevention strategies for depression linked to cannabis use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows links between cannabis exposure and brain changes, but this project seeks to connect those changes to specific cells and genes in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Girgenti, Matthew J — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Girgenti, Matthew J
Related research
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How gene changes tied to cannabis use and depression affect the brain
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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.