An observational study in HIV Infections and Cannabis, sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-07.
Sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine · Observational
This study employs novel methods to identify key determinants and consequences of concurrent HIV infection and regular cannabis use. This study will acquire extensive phenotype data from peripheral and brain markers of immune activation, brain structure, and neuropsychological performance (NP) in persons living with HIV (PLWH) receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users) and HIV uninfected (HIV-) controls (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users). This study will provide key insights into the effects of regular cannabis and HIV on peripheral and brain markers of immune function and NP in PLWH and HIV- controls. These insights are critical for cure strategies and ongoing HIV treatment initiatives.
4,258 studies on the registry are indexed under HIV Infections; 240 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 276 is above the median of 200 across 713 observational studies indexed under HIV Infections.
Browse HIV Infections studies →Washington University School of Medicine is the lead sponsor of 1,765 studies on the registry; 271 are open to participants now.
Of its 324 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 212 (65%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
A total of 160 PLWH (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users) and 160 demographically similar healthy HIV- controls (80 regular cannabis users and 80 non-users) may undergo multimodal neuroimaging, immunophenotyping (including blood and cerebrospinal fluid), and neuropsychological testing to address the specific aims.
Exclusion Criteria:
Persons diagnosed with HIV who identify as using medical or recreational marijuana
Procedure: MRI · Other: NeuroPsychological Testing · Procedure: Blood Draw · Other: Questionnaires · Procedure: Lumbar Puncture
Persons diagnosed with HIV who identify as not using medical or recreational marijuana
Procedure: MRI · Other: NeuroPsychological Testing · Procedure: Blood Draw · Other: Questionnaires · Procedure: Lumbar Puncture
Persons without HIV who identify as using medical or recreational marijuana
Procedure: MRI · Other: NeuroPsychological Testing · Procedure: Blood Draw · Other: Questionnaires · Procedure: Lumbar Puncture
Persons without HIV who identify as not using medical or recreational marijuana
Procedure: MRI · Other: NeuroPsychological Testing · Procedure: Blood Draw · Other: Questionnaires · Procedure: Lumbar Puncture
Multimodal neuroimaging on 3T Prisma Fit MRI
A series of written, verbal, and motor tasks requiring the participant to follow instructions, remember words and numbers, draw objects, and complete timed actions.
Laboratory reports (CMP, CBC, Lipids)
Life history, current behaviors, and substance use surveys
Optional procedure which involves obtaining cerebral spinal fluid through a needle in the lower back
Effect of cannabis use on peripheral and brain immune activation and inflammation in virally controlled PLWH on cART.
Validated plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of immune health and inflammation (e.g., CD14, CD16, Neopterin, etc.), as well as novel neuroimaging methods of neuro-inflammation (e.g., DTI \& DBSI, 3T MRI) will be used to evaluate brain inflammation.
Time frame: Years 1-5
Effect of cannabis use on cognitive performance and brain structure in both PLWH/CB+ and CON/CB+.
Neuropsychological assessment results will be normed and converted into Z scores for comparison with brain volumes calculated from the 3T.
Time frame: Years 1-5
Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.
Plan to share: No
This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Washington University School of Medicine