Current Studies

PI: Doris Trauner, MD

This clinical trial is examining if and how cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical found in the cannabis plant, provides therapeutic benefit to children with severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The trial is funded by a grant from the Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation in partnership with and based on recommendations from the Wholistic Research and Education Foundation.

PI: Kristin Cadenhead, MD

This clinical trial will explore the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD), in reducing symptoms and improving cognition in early psychosis. Additionally, this trial will examine the effect of CBD on the biological response to stress, and the effect of CBD on eating behavior induced by antipsychotic medication.

PI: Mariana Cherner, PhD

It is estimated that up to a third US adults suffer from sleep problems, which are in turn associated with sub-optimal, and sometimes compromised, daily functioning.  Sedative and hypnotic medications constitute the main pharmacologic treatment for insomnia, but they are habit-forming and associated with adverse next-day “hangover” effects, including impaired driving and risk of falls.

PI: Giordano de Guglielmo, PharmD, PhD

The development of novel and more effective medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a pressing medical need. Preclinical studies showed that chronic cannabidiol (CBD) treatment decreased alcohol drinking and prevented the reinstatement of alcohol seeking that was induced by environmental cues and stress.

PI: Guido Frank, MD

Because there are no proven treatments that normalize core symptoms in adult anorexia nervosa (AN), a disorder with high chronicity and mortality, many individuals seek out alternative approaches to care.  Recent evidence has suggested that exaggerated anxiety and diminished reward or motivation to eat play a key role in causing AN symptoms and poor outcome. 

PI: Veena Ranganath, MD

The overall goal of this proof-of-principle proposal is to examine the efficacy and safety of CBD treatment as adjunctive to the medical management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients with moderate to severe disease activity.

PI: William Perry, Ph.D. & Jared Young, Ph.D

This study will look at the impact of chronic cannabis use as well as the effects of acute administration of the principal constituents of cannabis on cognition and brain levels of endogenous cannabinoids and the neurotransmitter dopamine.

PI: Brook Henry, Ph.D. & Ron Ellis, M.D., Ph.D.

This study will address these three fundamental gaps in our knowledge by: 1) examining the acute effects of various CBD/THC products on HIV-NP, 2) utilizing a mHealth text messaging protocol (Individual Monitoring of Pain and Cannabis Taken or IMPACT) to monitor daily real-world cannabis use and changes in pain; 3) studying the relationship between cannabinoids, EC biomarkers, and chronic neuropathic pain.