Federal Grant Award Summary

Michigan State University, in partnership with Henry Ford Health, received a $183,681 Project Grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) awarded March 15, 2026. This research initiative will develop and test a patient-engaged technology-based intervention targeting the reduction of prenatal cannabis use. The project will establish an Electronic Screening and Brief Intervention (ESBI) combined with tailored text messaging intervention, informed by a Patient Advisor Committee operating in a co-investigator capacity. This approach aligns with NIDA's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Priority Area #2 to develop and test novel harm reduction strategies grounded in the lived experience of individuals who will benefit from the intervention.

The research addresses a critical gap in prenatal care by focusing on systematic screening and intervention for non-treatment-seeking pregnant patients who use cannabis. Given evidence of adverse neonatal outcomes associated with prenatal cannabis exposure—including small size at birth, preterm birth, and neonatal intensive care unit admission—as well as maternal complications such as gestational hypertension, this intervention will employ patient-centered counseling approaches utilizing motivational interviewing techniques to change behavior during the pregnancy "teachable moment." The project period extends through February 28, 2031, and will be conducted at the East Lansing, Michigan facility.