A group of scientists from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) has been awarded over $6.7 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how marijuana use during pregnancy affects women living with HIV.
The five-year funding will support research directed by Dr. Jamie Lo, an obstetrics and gynecology associate professor at OHSU’s School of Medicine. She is partnering with Dr. Benjamin Burwitz, associate professor in the Division of Pathobiology & Immunology at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC). Additional collaborators include co-lead researcher Dr. Jennifer Manuzak from Tulane’s National Primate Research Center, along with Dr. James Frank and Dr. Matthias Schabel from OHSU.
The study will rely on nonhuman primate models to investigate how daily exposure to THC affects the body during pregnancy in the context of HIV-like infection. The project merges the Lo laboratory’s focus on substance use during pregnancy with the Burwitz team’s expertise in infectious disease and immune system research using primate models.
According to the WHO, approximately 1.2 million pregnant women were living with HIV as of 2023. Even when receiving antiretroviral therapy, these patients face elevated risks such as preterm birth, complications with the placenta, and restricted fetal growth. These problems are tied to persistent body inflammation, which continues despite effective treatment.
Meanwhile, marijuana use during pregnancy is on the rise, including among people with HIV. Although many see marijuana as relatively safe, research has suggested links between its use and pregnancy complications.
The researchers will work with rhesus macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), which closely mimics HIV in humans. The animals will receive antiretroviral therapy along with daily THC edibles. Researchers will monitor how this combination influences maternal immunity, placental health, and fetal development.
Advanced imaging technology and regular evaluations throughout pregnancy will allow the team to observe biological changes in the mother, placenta, and fetus in ways that cannot be done in human pregnancies for safety reasons.
Dr. Lo explained that the placenta and fetal development in nonhuman primates closely mirror those in humans, and both share the same cannabinoid receptor structure where THC binds. This makes the model uniquely suited for studying cannabis use during pregnancy.
Beyond answering immediate questions, the team will also establish a biological sample bank so other researchers can explore related areas in the future.
“This marks the first detailed study into how pregnancy, cannabis, and HIV interact,” said Dr. Burwitz. “We hope the results will provide doctors with better evidence to guide and counsel pregnant patients with HIV who are using marijuana.”
The findings will undoubtedly be of interest to companies like Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) that specialize in selling medical marijuana products in the communities they serve.
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