Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded the University of Illinois a $109,076 Project Grant on January 25, 2026, under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) to investigate ovarian steroid mechanisms underlying female cannabis use patterns. The research project, which runs through January 24, 2030, examines the causal relationship between menstrual cycle hormone fluctuations—specifically progesterone and estradiol—and cannabis use disorder (CUD) risk in reproductive-aged women. The study addresses a critical gap in addiction research by employing novel computational modeling approaches, including generalized additive mixed models and group iterative multiple model estimations, to analyze drug use patterns across the menstrual cycle using both longitudinal observational data and experimental models.

This research directly supports NIDA's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan objective to expand understanding of biological mechanisms underlying drug use. By identifying specific windows of acute risk related to hormonal fluctuations during the periovulatory and perimenstrual phases, the project aims to improve identification of vulnerable populations and inform targeted prevention and intervention strategies for women with unique risk factors for problem cannabis use, including those with psychiatric comorbidities. The research is particularly significant given recent widespread cannabis legalization, increased prevalence of CUD among females, and the potential implications for pregnant cannabis users and offspring health outcomes.