2024 Consortium Grant Awardees and their Project Narratives and Anticipated Impacts
Effects of acute cannabis smoke exposure on respiration after cervical spinal cord injury in rats
Erica Dale, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology and Aging
College of Medicine
University of Florida
More than half of traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) occur at the cervical level, leading to respiratory compromise or failure. Cannabis has recently been shown to enhance motor output in neural systems such as that for locomotion however the effects of cannabis on the motor neuron networks responsible for breathing have not been explored. Previous research by this team has shown multiple known cellular pathways that lead to synaptic strengthening of the motor neurons responsible for controlling breathing, including the serotonergic system. Cannabis may also be neuroprotective and can facilitate synaptic transmission via modulation of the mammalian serotonin system. Thus, this study proposes to measure respiratory output during cannabis smoke exposure in rats with cervical spinal cord injury.
With cannabis activating the prime receptors for neuroplasticity in the respiratory control network, this study proposes that respiratory motor output will facilitate motor output to enhance breathing capacity and thus, dramatically improve quality of life for those living with spinal cord injury. In addition, cannabis is used by upwards of 30% of people living with spinal cord injury with reported benefits being anywhere from pain management and self-medication for depression to improved motor and sensory functions. It is imperative to understand the effects of cannabis use on breathing function.
Medical Cannabis Use among Pregnant and non-Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age
Panagiota Kitsanta, PhD
Chair and Professor, Department of Population Health and Social Medicine
Schmidt College of Medicine
Florida Atlantic University
In the United States, medical cannabis (MC) use among pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age (WRA) is increasing. However, there is scarce research detailing the specific uses of MC in this population. The objectives for this study include: (1) identifying the medical conditions for which MC is utilized as well as quantifying MC dosage, product types, and administration routes across pregnant and non-pregnant WRA; (2) investigating MC’s impact on the use of controlled substances, including opioids used for pain management; and (3) assess the occurrence of adverse events associated with MC use.
This study addresses significant research gaps in the understanding of medical cannabis (MC) potential risks, benefits, and the policies and clinical practice guidelines for this population. The results of this study have the potential to inform patient care and policymaking and foster a deeper understanding of MC’s public health implications.
Medical Cannabis Use and Cardiovascular Health in a Vulnerable Population of Medicaid Patients
Earl Morris, PharmD, MPH, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy
College of Pharmacy
University of Florida
This project aims to fill a critical gap in understanding the cardiovascular effects of medical cannabis by leveraging linked data from the Florida Medical Marijuana Use Registry and Medicaid claims. Given the increasing use of medical cannabis in Florida, there is a vital need to better understand trends and correlates for its use among Florida residents with cardiovascular disease. By examining trends in cannabis use among patients with cardiovascular conditions and assessing associated risks, this study will provide crucial insights into the safety of medical cannabis in a vulnerable population.
The findings are expected to significantly inform clinical and policy decision-making by clarifying the cardiovascular risk associated with medical cannabis use, particularly in individuals with pre-existing conditions. Output from this project will help set priorities for future research into the cardiovascular risk profile of medical cannabis, will provide novel evidence to healthcare providers for making more informed treatment decisions, and will guide policymakers in crafting regulations that ensure safer medical cannabis use.
Role of CBD and Full Spectrum CBD in Diabetes Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Mandip Sachdeva, PhD
Professor and Section Leader, Pharmaceutics
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Florida A&M University
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a prevalent and debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus, marked by the progressive loss of sensory function in the lower extremities. Although our understanding of diabetes has significantly advanced in recent decades, existing treatments for DPN provide only partial symptomatic relief and do not prevent disease progression. This project hypothesizes that cannabidiol (CBD), either as a standalone treatment or within a full-spectrum CBD formulation, can alleviate DPN symptoms—such as pain, numbness, and tingling—thereby improving sleep quality, mood, and overall quality of life in diabetic patients. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatments, monitor patient responses to cannabinoid supplements versus placebo, and identify any issues with patient compliance or study design.
Currently, there are limited treatment options for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and no systematic clinical study has directly compared the effects of orally administered cannabidiol (CBD) isolate with full-spectrum CBD. This trial aims to observe a significant reduction in DPN symptoms over the 6-week treatment phase and to determine whether the addition of hemp extract alters patient outcomes. By assessing CBD as a single agent versus full-spectrum CBD, this study will provide a crucial baseline for future research on combination therapies or cannabis derivatives.
Barry Setlow, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry
College of Medicine
University of Florida
THC may hold potential for remediating cognitive deficits in older adults; however, it is not clear how other cannabinoids found in cannabis (particularly CBD) interact with THC to affect cognition in this age group. Using well-validated rodent models of cognitive function in combination with a translationally-relevant route of administration (vaping), this project will determine how CBD influences the ability of THC to remediate age-related deficits in several forms of memory.
Many of the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Florida occur predominantly in older adults and are frequently accompanied by cognitive impairments. THC may hold potential for addressing cognitive deficits in this population, but because it is often used in combination with other cannabinoids such as CBD, it is important to determine how such cannabinoid mixtures influence the cognitive outcomes of THC use. This project will enable rapid experimental assessment of the impact of CBD on THC’s effects on cognition in aged subjects, which could inform the clinical use of cannabinoid mixtures.
Effects of a hemp-derived cannabidiol and cannabidiolic-acid oral extract on resting-state electroencephalography and neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury
Eva Widerström-Noga, DDS, PhD, FASIA
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Miller School of Medicine
University of Miami
Neuropathic pain affects a majority of those with spinal cord injuries (SCI), and current treatments are often limited in their effectiveness. Those who experience neuropathic pain after SCI often report positive effects of cannabis on their pain, which has generated an increased research interest around the use of cannabinoids as potential analgesic treatments. This research is expected to improve the understanding of the effects and underlying mechanisms of cannabis and cannabinoids on SCI-related neuropathic pain and thus provide a basis for larger clinical trials and ultimately clinical translation.
No studies to date have examined the acute effects of oral CBD/CBD-A on neuropathic pain intensity and unpleasantness, and electroencephalogram (EEG) resting state power in people with spinal cord injuries. This study provides a unique opportunity to determine if a single CBD/CBD-A dose produces analgesic effects and if these changes can be verified by neuroelectric correlates. If successful, the outcomes of this study will facilitate the development of larger, high-quality clinical trials to evaluate the long-term effects of cannabinoid treatments on neuropathic pain and quality of life in people with spinal cord injuries.
2024 Level 2 Projects
The Consortium Grant Program offers two levels of funding options for researchers. Level 1 is a one-year award of up to $75,000; Level 2 is a two-year award of up to $130,000. Level 2 grants require a second review and approval by the Consortium Board in order to receive funding for the second year of the grant cycle.
The following projects received Level 2 funding grants in 2023 and subsequently received approval for second year funding in 2024:
Comparative evaluation of cannabinoids and opioids for treating chronic pain in aged subjects
Niall Murphy, PhD
Research Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics Research
College of Dentistry
University of Florida
Treating chronic pain in the elderly is challenging due to a poor understanding of how advanced age affects physiology and drug action. This project will test the analgesic potency of marijuana constituents in aged animals, seeking evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) particularly may present itself as a safer alternative to other analgesics, e.g., opioids, for treating pain in the elderly.
Finding safe and efficacious analgesics for treating pain in the elderly is a high priority, particularly given the rise in aged populations. Results from the current study aim to address this need by seeking evidence to support using marijuana constituents as an alternative and safer pain treatment for the elderly.
Development of Cannabinoid Treatments to Ameliorate Methamphetamine Use Disorder
Habibeh Khoshbouei, PhD, PharmD
Professor, Department of Neuroscience
College of Medicine
University of Florida
Increasing efforts are made to develop treatments for methamphetamine use disorder. For instance, agonist replacement medications such as oral dosage forms of d-amphetamine and methylphenidate have shown promise in reducing methamphetamine relapse by increasing basal dopamine levels, but they have abuse potential. Alternatively, the endocannabinoid system modulates the activity of dopaminergic neurons through other mechanism(s). The CB1R agonist Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) increases firing activity of dopamine neurons and enhances dopamine synthesis. Although interactions between cannabinoid receptors and increased dopamine transmission are reported, their properties for methamphetamine relapse have been scarcely investigated. This study assesses the hypothesis that in freely behaving mice, THC reduces methamphetamine regulation of VTA dopamine neurons and striatal dopamine transmission.
The results are two-fold: revealing THC regulation of VTA dopamine neuronal activity, striatal dopamine release, their correlation with behavioral responses, and their contribution to methamphetamine reinstatement. We predict THC could increase VTA dopamine neuronal activity that increases striatal dopamine levels that potentially facilitate drug extinction and reduce drug reinstatement.