NCT05430490

Brief Summary

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.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
320

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
2mo left

Started Mar 2022

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress97%
Mar 2022Jun 2026

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 23, 2022

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 25, 2022

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 24, 2022

Completed
4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 30, 2026

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 30, 2026

Last Updated

April 3, 2025

Status Verified

March 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

4.3 years

First QC Date

April 25, 2022

Last Update Submit

March 31, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • 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.

    Years 1-5

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Effect of cannabis use on cognitive performance and brain structure in both PLWH/CB+ and CON/CB+.

    Years 1-5

Study Arms (4)

HIV+ Cannabis User

Persons diagnosed with HIV who identify as using medical or recreational marijuana

Procedure: MRIOther: NeuroPsychological TestingProcedure: Blood DrawOther: QuestionnairesProcedure: Lumbar Puncture

HIV+ Cannabis Non-User

Persons diagnosed with HIV who identify as not using medical or recreational marijuana

Procedure: MRIOther: NeuroPsychological TestingProcedure: Blood DrawOther: QuestionnairesProcedure: Lumbar Puncture

HIV- Cannabis User

Persons without HIV who identify as using medical or recreational marijuana

Procedure: MRIOther: NeuroPsychological TestingProcedure: Blood DrawOther: QuestionnairesProcedure: Lumbar Puncture

HIV- Cannabis Non-User

Persons without HIV who identify as not using medical or recreational marijuana

Procedure: MRIOther: NeuroPsychological TestingProcedure: Blood DrawOther: QuestionnairesProcedure: Lumbar Puncture

Interventions

MRIPROCEDURE

Multimodal neuroimaging on 3T Prisma Fit MRI

HIV+ Cannabis Non-UserHIV+ Cannabis UserHIV- Cannabis Non-UserHIV- Cannabis User

A series of written, verbal, and motor tasks requiring the participant to follow instructions, remember words and numbers, draw objects, and complete timed actions.

HIV+ Cannabis Non-UserHIV+ Cannabis UserHIV- Cannabis Non-UserHIV- Cannabis User
Blood DrawPROCEDURE

Laboratory reports (CMP, CBC, Lipids)

HIV+ Cannabis Non-UserHIV+ Cannabis UserHIV- Cannabis Non-UserHIV- Cannabis User

Life history, current behaviors, and substance use surveys

HIV+ Cannabis Non-UserHIV+ Cannabis UserHIV- Cannabis Non-UserHIV- Cannabis User

Optional procedure which involves obtaining cerebral spinal fluid through a needle in the lower back

HIV+ Cannabis Non-UserHIV+ Cannabis UserHIV- Cannabis Non-UserHIV- Cannabis User

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 70 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodProbability Sample
Study Population

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.

You may qualify if:

  • Participants must be 18-70 years old.
  • PLWH must have documented HIV infection for approximately 1 year, be on a cART regimen for approximately ≥3 months, and be virally well-controlled (\< 200 copies/mL).
  • HIV- controls must have confirmed HIV- serostatus.
  • Participants must complete at least 9 years of education.
  • Participants must be able to provide informed consent.
  • Female participants must have a negative pregnancy test or written documentation of tubal ligation, hysterectomy, post-menopausal status, etc. and cannot be breastfeeding.
  • Participants should have no contraindications to an MRI scan.
  • Participants should be willing to have cannabis use history confirmed via clinical interview and urine analysis .

You may not qualify if:

  • History of neurological disorder (e.g., stroke, head injury with loss of consciousness for \>5 minutes, developmental learning disability, etc.).
  • Uncontrolled major affective disorder; history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Major depression controlled with no hospitalizations or suicidal ideation in the past year is allowed.
  • Current substance use disorder (SUD) as defined by DSM-5 criteria besides cannabis use disorder (CUD) (though a past SUD \> 1 year before the time of study enrolment will be allowed).
  • claustrophobia or a pacemaker that would prevent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

RECRUITING

Rutgers University

Newark, New Jersey, 08901, United States

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Blood and CSF

MeSH Terms

Conditions

HIV InfectionsMarijuana Abuse

Interventions

Neuropsychological TestsBlood Specimen CollectionSurveys and QuestionnairesSpinal Puncture

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Blood-Borne InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsSexually Transmitted Diseases, ViralSexually Transmitted DiseasesLentivirus InfectionsRetroviridae InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsVirus DiseasesGenital DiseasesUrogenital DiseasesImmunologic Deficiency SyndromesImmune System DiseasesSubstance-Related DisordersChemically-Induced DisordersMental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychological TestsBehavioral Disciplines and ActivitiesSpecimen HandlingClinical Laboratory TechniquesDiagnostic Techniques and ProceduresDiagnosisPuncturesSurgical Procedures, OperativeInvestigative TechniquesData CollectionEpidemiologic MethodsHealth Care Evaluation MechanismsQuality of Health CareHealth Care Quality, Access, and EvaluationPublic HealthEnvironment and Public HealthBiopsyDiagnostic Techniques, NeurologicalTherapeutics

Central Study Contacts

Elizabeth Westerhaus, MA

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
CROSS SECTIONAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 25, 2022

First Posted

June 24, 2022

Study Start

March 23, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Last Updated

April 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations