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Cannabis, Depression and Neurobiological Function in Transition-Age Youth

Award Number: K23DA053409
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/15/2026
AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 03/11/2026

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Cannabis, Depression and Neurobiological Function in Transition-Age Youth - Project Summary This application for a Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23) will allow the candidate to obtain specialized training and research expertise in new areas that will enable her to become an independent physician scientist. Dr. Fischer details a five year research plan aimed at characterizing the effects of cannabis exposure on neurobiological functioning and the evolution of depressive symptoms in transition age youth (TAY). The specific aims are to prospectively examine the impact of cannabis exposure on reward and stress system functioning, and to develop a preliminary integrative biomarker-guided model of the effects of cannabis exposure on symptoms of reward impairment and depression in TAY. Forty regular cannabis-users and 30 non-cannabis- using controls will be recruited and prospectively followed for 12 months. Participants will complete clinical and substance use assessments, perform reward and stress tests utilizing functional neuroimaging and cortisol bioassays, and provide hair samples to quantify aggregate delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure. Findings from this work will advance our understanding of the neurobiological and psychiatric consequences of cannabis exposure in TAY. The application builds on the candidate’s prior research experience in characterizing the acute effects of cannabis in dual-disorder patients and examining functional connectivity biomarkers of risk, resilience and treatment response in depression. Over the course of the K23, Dr. Fischer will receive in-depth mentored-training in new areas that are essential to her career development: (1) the multidimensional characterization of reward processing and impairment; (2) the neurobiology of phyto/endo-cannabinoids and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axis; and (3) the longitudinal investigation and analysis of translational cannabis and depression research in TAY. An interdisciplinary team of mentors who are experts in the characterization of reward function and impairment in relation to substance abuse (Dr. Knutson), phyto/endo- cannabinoid pharmacology and physiology (Dr. Piomelli), HPA stress-axis physiology and pathophysiology in depression (Dr. Schatzberg), adolescent cannabis research (Dr. Tapert), and statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal data (Dr. Jo) will help the candidate meet her training and research objectives. This program of research and training directly aligns with NIDA and NIMH Strategic Plans and Priorities by rigorously characterizing the neurobiological and psychiatric impact of cannabis exposure during an understudied period of brain development using quantitative, multivariate, and longitudinal assessments. Dr. Fischer’s research and training will take place at Stanford University. This K23 Career Development Award will provide a fundamental foundation for the candidate to achieve her career goals of characterizing the longitudinal effects of cannabis exposure on neurobiological function in relation to clinical symptoms, thereby informing public poloicy and assisting in the development of neurobiologically-guided interventions for cannabis use and depressive disorders.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $1 )
2026	2026	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	2	3/11/2026	TERMINATION	-$193,319
2026	2026	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	2/10/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$193,320
														Subtotal = $1

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2022	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	11/19/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	1/15/2024	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2022	LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, THE	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	10/17/2022	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $193,320 )
2022	2022	LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, THE	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	7/15/2022	NEW	$193,320
														Subtotal = $193,320

Grand Total All Awards = $193,321

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Cannabis, Depression and Neurobiological Function in Transition-Age Youth

Award Number: K23DA053409

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/15/2026

AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 03/11/2026

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