Project Grant R01DA066910

The National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded the University of Illinois $726,413 under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) on August 1, 2026, for a Project Grant to examine neural and computational markers of reward processes as longitudinal risk markers of cannabis use escalation in young adults with anhedonia.

The research investigates how acute laboratory administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC) versus placebo affects reward processing in individuals aged 18–21 with elevated anhedonia—deficient processing and experiencing of pleasure and rewards. The study focuses on two aspects of reward processing: reward anticipation and reward-based reinforcement learning. Young adults with anhedonia are identified as at elevated risk for escalating cannabis use, and the research aims to clarify whether abnormal processing of D9-THC's effects on reward mechanisms drives this risk, informing targeted prevention efforts for high-risk populations.

The award period runs from August 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031, with place of performance in Chicago, Illinois. The University of Illinois acts as the prime recipient and ultimate recipient of the award. This is a Project Grant, the standard assistance type for research under NIDA's Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs portfolio, which supports basic, clinical, translational, and implementation research in substance use with project periods typically not exceeding five years.