Staci Gruber

In 1991 Gruber received both a B.S. from Tufts University and a B.Mus. from the New England Conservatory of Music. In 1995 she earned an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education.{{Cite web |title=Staci Gruber, PhD {{!}} McLean Hospital |url=https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/staci-gruber |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=www.mcleanhospital.org}} She received an M.S. from Tufts University in 2000, and in 2002 went on to earn her Ph.D. from Tufts University where she explored the Stroop effect and differential response of subregions within the cingulate cortex in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder using functional MRI.{{Cite thesis |title=Stroop performance in schizophrenic and bipolar patients: an fMRI study |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/190834435 |date=2002 |language=English |first=Staci Ann |last=Gruber| oclc=190834435 }} As of 2022 she is an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program at McLean Hospital.

Her current research is dedicated to examining the impact of cannabis and cannabinoids on various health outcomes using comprehensive an longitudinal clinical ratings, cognitive assessments, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).{{cite news|title=What Science Knows About Marijuana's Health Benefits|author=Jennifer Walter|date=February 7, 2020|work=Discover Magazine|url=https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/what-science-knows-about-marijuanas-health-benefits}} Her research is funded and supported by government grants, philanthropy/private donations, and industry.{{cite web |title=Gift Funds Neuroscience Research into Medical Marijuana |url=https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2014/10/mclean-mind-gift |website=Harvard Magazine |date=8 October 2014 |access-date=3 October 2022}}{{cite news |title=Largest Grant Ever for Cannabis Research to Help Fund Study by McLean's Dr. Staci Gruber |url=https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/largest-grant-ever-cannabis-research-help-fund-study-mcleans-dr-staci-gruber |access-date=3 October 2022 |agency=McLean Hospital |date=2 May 2020}}

Dr. Gruber’s earlier work focused on the application of neurocognitive models and brain imaging to better characterize neurobiological risk factors for psychopathology; she is a co-author on some of the first published findings in patients with psychotic disorders using proton MRS and fMRI techniques.{{cite journal |last1=Renshaw |first1=PF |last2=Yurgelun-Todd |first2=DA |last3=Gruber |first3=S |last4=Cohen |first4=BM |title=emporal lobe proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of patients with first episode psychosis |journal=American Journal of Psychiatry |date=1995 |volume=152 |issue=3 |pages=444–446 |doi=10.1176/ajp.152.3.444 |pmid=7864274}}{{cite journal |last1=Yurgelun-Todd |first1=DA |last2=Waternaux |first2=CM |last3=Cohen |first3=BM |last4=Gruber |first4=SA |last5=English |first5=CD |last6=Renshaw |first6=PF |title=Functional magnetic resonance imaging of schizophrenic patients and comparison subjects during word production. |journal=American Journal of Psychiatry |date=1996 |volume=153 |issue=2 |pages=200–205 |doi=10.1176/ajp.153.2.200 |pmid=8561199}} Her work in cannabis initially focused on clarifying the impact of age of onset of recreational cannabis use. Her findings demonstrated that individuals who began using cannabis earlier exhibit poorer performance on measures on cognitive performance and altered patterns of brain structure and function relative to those who began using cannabis later and relative to those who do not use cannabis.{{cite journal |last1=Gruber |first1=Staci A. |last2=Sagar |first2=Kelly A. |last3=Dahlgren |first3=Mary Kathryn |last4=Racine |first4=Megan |last5=Lukas |first5=Scott E. |title=Age of Onset of Marijuana Use and Executive Function |journal=Psychology of Addictive Behaviors |date=2012 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=496–506 |doi=10.1037/a0026269|pmid=22103843 |pmc=3345171 }} In 2014, she founded the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program which is specifically focused on examining the specific effects of medical cannabis use.{{cite news |title=McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School Researchers to Conduct Revolutionary Study on Medical Marijuana and the Brain |url=https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/mclean-hospital-and-harvard-medical-school-researchers-conduct-revolutionary-study-medical |access-date=11 October 2022 |agency=McLean Hospital |date=6 October 2014}}{{cite news |title=Uncovering the Mysteries of Marijuana |url=https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/uncovering-mysteries-marijuana |access-date=11 October 2022 |agency=McLean Hospital |date=27 April 2016}} MIND examines the impact of medical cannabis using observational, longitudinal, and survey studies, as well as clinical trials of cannabinoid-based products. The Women’s Health Initiative at MIND (WHIM), a cannabis-focused women’s health research program, conducts studies related to sexual/reproductive health and disorders that disproportionately affect women as well as some transgender and non-binary individuals.{{cite web |title=Women's Health Initiative at MIND |url=https://www.drstacigruber.com/whim |website=drstacigruber.com}}

In 2017, Gruber stated that with regard to cannabis, "policy has outpaced science".{{citation|title=Playing catch-up on marijuana – The preliminary results of legal medical and recreational marijuana use are encouraging says Medical School Associate Professor Staci Gruber, but more research should be done before any more legislation is written.|author=Alvin Powell|date=February 3, 2017|work=The Harvard Gazette|publisher=Harvard University|url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/02/playing-catch-up-on-marijuana/}} Some of her research is conducted with private funding due to the federal government's placement of cannabis in Schedule I, having no accepted medical use.{{cite news|newspaper=Harvard Crimson|title= Decoding Cannabis |author= Tess C. Kelley |date=March 11, 2021|url= https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/3/11/staci-gruber-cbd/ }} Gruber testified before the United States Congress in 2019 as an expert on the psychiatric effects of cannabis; her appearance was said by a cannabis industry newspaper to have provided the "most persuasive and thoughtful testimony" in the hearing, titled "Marijuana and America’s Health: Questions and Issues for Policy Makers".{{cite news|newspaper=Cannabis Business Times|title= Senate Committee Hearing Emphasizes the Need for Policy Change to Increase Cannabis Research Access|date=October 25, 2019|author=Andrea Sparr-Jaswa |url= https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/senate-committee-hearing-emphasizes-need-for-policy-change-to-increase-cannabis-research/}} Gruber is an advisor to the Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation, formed in 2021.{{citation|title=New cannabis coalition wants to influence how — not if — weed is legalized|work=Politico|author=Natalie Fertig|date=March 11, 2021|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/11/cannabis-coalition-legalized-marijuana-475258}}{{citation|title=Testimony of Dr. Staci Gruber, "Marijuana and America's Health: Questions and Issues for Policy Makers"|website=United States Congress official website|publisher=United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control|date=October 23, 2019|url=https://www.drugcaucus.senate.gov/sites/default/files/Senate%20Testimony%20-%20Gruber%202019.pdf}}

• {{Cite journal |last1=Gruber |first1=Staci A. |last2=Sagar |first2=Kelly A. |last3=Dahlgren |first3=Mary Kathryn |last4=Racine |first4=Megan |last5=Lukas |first5=Scott E. |date=2012 |title=Age of onset of marijuana use and executive function. |journal=Psychology of Addictive Behaviors |language=en |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=496–506 |doi=10.1037/a0026269 |issn=1939-1501 |pmc=3345171 |pmid=22103843}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Gruber |first1=Staci A. |last2=Sagar |first2=Kelly A. |last3=Dahlgren |first3=Mary Kathryn |last4=Racine |first4=Megan T. |last5=Smith |first5=Rosemary T. |last6=Lukas |first6=Scott E. |date=2016 |title=Splendor in the grass? A pilot study assessing the impact of medical marijuana on executive function. |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |language=en |volume=7 |pages=355 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2016.00355|pmid=27790138 |pmc=5062916 |doi-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Sagar |first1=Kelly A. |last2=Gruber |first2=Staci A. |title=Marijuana Matters: Reviewing the impact of marijuana on cognition, brain structure and function, & exploring policy implications and barriers to research |journal=International Review of Psychiatry |date=2018 |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=251–267 |doi= 10.1080/09540261.2018.1460334|pmid=29966459 |pmc=6455965 }}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Sagar |first1=Kelly A. |last2=Dahlgren |first2=Mary Kathryn |last3=Lambros |first3=Ashley M. |last4=Smith |first4=Rosemary T. |last5=El-Abboud |first5=Celine |last6=Gruber |first6=Staci A. |title=An observational, longitudinal study of cognition in medical cannabis patients over the course of 12 months of treatment: preliminary results |journal=Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society |date=2021 |volume=27 |issue=6 |pages=648–660 |doi=10.1017/S1355617721000114 |pmid=34261553|s2cid=235824932 |doi-access=free }}

Gruber and her spouse Patricia Cornwell live in Massachusetts. They wed in 2006.[https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-12-01-patricia-cornwell_N.htm "Crime pays quite well for Patricia Cornwell"] USA Today December 3, 2008[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3669542/Patricia-Cornwell-Finally-I-feel-rooted-somewhere.html "Patricia Cornwell: 'Finally, I feel rooted somewhere'"] November 26, 2007 She is a singer, and recorded 1 album {{as of|2016|lc=yes}}.{{cite news|newspaper=The Boston Globe|title= This is your brain on pot: Neuroscientist studies long-term effects of medical marijuana|author=Leah Samuel|date=August 17, 2016|url= https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/08/16/this-your-brain-pot-neuroscientist-studies-long-term-effects-medical-marijuana/s7xRqlT9mRGW5TFwEgEXGI/story.html }}

{{reflist}}

• https://www.wgbh.org/events/cannabis-conversations-investigating-medicinal-uses-of-cannabis-virtual
• https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2021/4/10/harvard-study-finds-cannabis-effective-treatment-for-chronic-pain
• https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/mclean-hospital-study-finds-medical-marijuana-use-may-improve-cognitive-performance

• {{google scholar id|2eBBMwUAAAAJ&hl}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gruber, Staci}}

Category:Cannabis researchers

Category:Harvard Medical School faculty

Category:Living people

Category:Tufts University alumni

Category:Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni

Category:New England Conservatory alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)