July 1, 2022

The Drexel Medical Cannabis Research Center is proud to announce the award of funding for two 2022 MCRC Pilot Studies to researchers from the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute and researchers from the Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCOM).

The pilot study for the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute is led by primary investigator Hillary Steinberg, PhD and she will be assisted by Disha Uppal, MPH; Lindsey Shea, DrPH, MS; and Giacomo Vivanti, PhD. The study is titled “Cannabis and Autism: Understanding How the Autism Community Views and Uses Cannabis” and will focus on defining who uses cannabis, why they use it, how they access it, and the general attitudes and perceptions of autistic individuals and caregivers toward cannabis use.

The pilot study awarded to DUCOM is led by primary investigator Jennifer Ross, PhD from the department of Pharmacology and Physiology. The study is titled “Clinical Efficacy of Medicinal Marijuana for Stress-Related Disorders.” The study will seek to bridge the gap between the expertise of medical professionals with the experience of medical cannabis patients with stress-related disorders.