# Brain and behavior correlates of prenatal cannabis exposure

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $699,622

## Abstract

Cannabis use during pregnancy has increased substantially, in conjunction with widespread
decriminalization/legalization, changing public perceptions about harm, and evidence of cannabis's antiemetic
properties. Prior outcomes research on prenatal cannabis exposure is narrow in scope, as these older studies
included research participants with polysubstance use (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs). In addition, prior
research also likely underestimated potential risks specific to cannabis use during pregnancy because modern
strains are 10x more potent than they were 40 years ago. We propose to study neurodevelopment in infants
exposed in utero to cannabis using state-of-the-art MRI and behavioral measures. Maternal cannabis use will
be measured prospectively using weekly reports validated with labels and urine-based assays. By focusing on
infancy, we aim to characterize cannabis-induced brain changes at a time when environmental effects are
minimized and are less influential than at older. In addition, we will test the hypothesis that prenatal cannabis
exposure is more detrimental to male than females. To test our hypotheses, we will recruit 200 pregnant
people (where the mother uses cannabis, but not other drugs, tobacco, or alcohol) and 170 pregnant control
participants matched on education level. Infants will receive a neonatal neurobehavioral exam and multi-modal
imaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and structural MRI) under natural
sleep at 2-4 weeks-of-age and extensive neuropsychological follow-up assessments at 6 and 18 months. This
program of research aims to clarify potential health risks, enabling pregnant people to make better-informed
choices surrounding cannabis use during pregnancy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10878906
- **Project number:** 5R01DA057559-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHEN R DAGER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $699,622
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-15 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10878906

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10878906, Brain and behavior correlates of prenatal cannabis exposure (5R01DA057559-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10878906. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*