ProVenture is a brain imaging project designed to study changes in neurodevelopment brought about by cannabis consumption. This study is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).
The legalization of cannabis in Canada and other jurisdictions makes it urgent to better understand the longterm effects exerted by this drug on individuals with different vulnerability profiles. Past research suggests an association between cannabis and a number of health-related concerns such as cognitive deficits, structural changes in the brain and a heightened risk of suffering from anxiety, depression and psychosis.
ProVenture will shine a light on the mechanisms that mediate the relationship between cannabis and its purported adverse effects. Our volunteers are recruited from the CoVenture cohort, classified into three levels of mental health vulnerability and assessed at three time points, eighteen (18) months apart. At every time point, they undergo a brain scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI), a battery of cognitive tests, a brief interview as well as a series of psychometric and drug-related questionnaires. Participants are also asked to provide a saliva sample and a drop of blood in order to sequence their DNA and measure a number of biomarkers.
