Research Projects

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

The ABCD Study is the largest-to-date study of adolescent health and development in the United States, following youth pre-substance use initiation at ages 9-10 through adolescence and young adulthood. It is coordinated through UC San Diego, with data collection at 21 sites across the country. Dr. Wade is a Co-Investigator at the UCSD data collection site. In addition, she is a member of several ABCD Workgroups (Substance Use, Novel Technologies, Neurocognition, Biostatistics, JEDI Responsible Use of Data) and Co-Chairs the Professional Development Workgroup. She oversees toxicological testing and passive sensing of smartphone use within ABCD. Our lab has received independent funding from NIDA (K08 DA050779) and the California Department of Cannabis Control to investigate longitudinal predictors and outcomes related to substance use as measured through hair toxicology. Dr. Wade is also a Co-I on a grant investigating predictors and causal factors related to e-cig use in the ABCD cohort (R01 DA054980).

ABCD domains commonly studied in the lab:

More information on the ABCD Study can be viewed on its website: https://abcdstudy.org/

PUFFS - Toxicology

In collaboration with Dr. Joanna Jacobus, we received funding from the California Department of Cannabis Control (Grant 93301) to add toxicological assessments to a longitudinal R01 (R01 DA054106) of emerging adult tobacco and cannabis co-use and neurodevelopment as measured through MRI and EEG. This grant allows for funding to test exogenous cannabinoid levels in blood and hair. We will be investigating how method and product of cannabis used translates to toxicological results, and whether this influences brain-behavior relationships.Â