Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279), awarded $248,201 to The Regents of the University of Colorado-Denver on April 15, 2026, for a two-year research project concluding March 31, 2028. The University of Colorado-Denver will conduct a rigorous validation study assessing the performance of cannabis detection devices utilizing two innovative approaches: breath sampling and ocular (pupil dynamics) assessment methods. The study will evaluate the reliability, repeatability, and predictive validity of two commercially available or near-market breath sampling devices and two ocular devices to detect recent cannabis use during the acute impairment window—a critical gap in current detection capabilities.

The research will employ a within-subjects observational design with 45 participants to accomplish three primary objectives: (1) test the repeatability of cannabinoid measurements in breath samples and pupil response assessments; (2) determine the duration of detectable cannabis effects over a 4.5-hour post-use observation period; and (3) evaluate the joint predictive validity of both detection methods. The project directly addresses public safety concerns related to cannabis-impaired driving by developing objective, non-invasive, and portable detection methods that overcome limitations of existing blood and urine biomarker approaches. Findings will refine detection protocols and inform industry standards for cannabis impairment assessment.