CMCR Grants Program
The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR) seeks to fund primary and pilot cannabis-related studies that further enhance the understanding of the efficacy and adverse effects of cannabis and cannabinoids as pharmacological agents for the treatment of medical and psychiatric disorders, and their potential public health impacts. Primary project awards are up to $825,000 in total costs ($275,000 per year) for up to three years. Pilot awards are up to $300,000 for two years ($150,000 per year).
CMCR Grants Program Studies Funded to Date.
| Year | Study title | Principal Investigator |
Full funding amount |
| 2024 |
Evaluating the impact of perioperative cannabidiol exposure in a preclinical model of orthopaedic implant infections |
Nicholas Bernthal, MD (UCLA) |
$300,000 |
| 2024 | Myrcene modulates on CB1 receptor function via enhancement of endocannabinoids |
Catherine Cahill, PhD (UCLA) |
$300,000 |
| 2024 | Sex differences in cannabidiol's effects on blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive conditions |
Zhi-Ling Guo, MD, PhD (UC Irvine) |
$300,000 |
| 2024 | Cannabidiol use during pregnancy: Safety and risk for the developing fetus |
Jennifer Thomas, PhD (San Diego State University) |
$300,000 |
| 2023 | Evaluating the efficacy of cannabidiol for reducing cigarette use |
Edythe London, PhD (UCLA) |
$825,000 |
| 2023 | Contribution of genetic factors to individual differences in anxiety in response to the cannabinoids THC and CBD |
Jamie Inman, PhD (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory) |
$300,000 |
| 2023 | The effects and brain mechanisms supporting cannabis-induced chronic low back pain relief |
Fadel Zeidan, PhD (UC San Diego) |
$300,000 |
| 2022 | An open-label clinical trial of a hemp-derived, ultra-high cannabidiol product for anxiety and pain in patients with glioblastoma |
Nicholas Butowkski, MD (UC San Francisco) & Staci Gruber, PhD, co-PI |
$300,000 |
| 2022 | Terpenes as novel analgesics - preclinical study |
Catherine Cahill, PhD (UCLA) |
$300,000 |
| 2022 | Antinociceptive effects of phytocannabinoids in a mouse model of sickle cell disease (SCD)s |
Daniele Piomelli, PhD (UC Irvine) |
$400,000 |
| 2021 | The effects of THC on glucose Mmetabolism and endothelial function in subjects with type 2 diabetes |
Jeremy Pettus, MD (UC San Diego) |
$825,000 |
| 2021 | Impact of cannabis expose on gut barrier function in health and disease | Nicholas DiPatrizio, PhD (UC Riverside) |
$300,000 |
| 2021 | Therapeutic efficacy of cannabis and cannabinoids in prescription opioid abuse and addiction | Michael Taffe, PhD (UC San Diego) |
$300,000 |
| 2020 | Analgesic, appetite-stimulating, and subjective effects of cannabigerol administered alone and in combination with delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol | Ziva Cooper, PhD (UCLA) | $825,000 |
| 2020 | Effects of CBD on blood pressure and substrate metabolism during metabolic syndrome | Rudy M. Ortiz, PhD (UC Merced) | $300,000 |
| 2019 | Effects of cannabidiol (CBD) versus placebo as an adjunct to treatment in early psychosis: Understanding the mechanism and mediators of action | Kristin Cadenhead, MD (UC San Diego) | $825,000 |
| 2019 | Therapeutic response of cannabidiol in rheumatoid arthritis | Veena Ranganath, MD (UCLA) | $825,000 |
| 2019 | Cannabidiol for sedative/hypnotic-sparing management of insomnia in adults | Mariana Cherner, PhD (UC San Diego) | $825,000 |
| 2019 | Cannabidiol as a strategy to treat alcohol dependence | Giordano de Guglielmo, PharmD, PhD (UC San Diego) | $300,000 |
| 2019 | The role of cannabidiol (CBD) in regulating meal time anxiety in anorexia nervosa: Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics |
Guido Frank, MD (UC San Diego) |
$300,000 |