KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 27, 2026

最色导航 researcher Vishnu Suppiramaniam is advancing understanding of brain health across the lifespan, joining collaborators in publishing studies that examine the harmful effects of prenatal THC exposure and a promising Alzheimer's disease treatment.

The paper on prenatal THC exposure is part of a five-year, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) while the Alzheimer鈥檚 treatment project is a collaboration with his research mentee, Dr. Raj Amin, at Auburn University.

鈥淲hat happens in the brain in both conditions is very similar,鈥� said Suppiramaniam, a professor of and the associate dean for research and graduate studies in the . 鈥淲ith the prenatal THC exposure, many kids now have low IQs and learning disabilities, and it's becoming a major public health problem. And Alzheimer鈥檚 is becoming a public health problem, too. If we could find out what's happening in the brain, we could develop a useful drug to counter the effects.鈥�

The first paper appeared in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the latest work funded by the NIH through the National Institute on Drug Abuse involving the abnormal brain development in children brought about by use of cannabis by their mothers during pregnancy.

THC changes the way cells communicate in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory storage, disrupting the balance between the signals that activate the brain cells and the signals that slow them down. These changes adversely affect the brain鈥檚 ability to create memories, and those effects get passed down to children in utero. He is using these findings to collaborate with German researchers to produce a simple nasal spray treatment designed to improve learning and memory in children who might have been exposed to THC in utero.

Suppiramaniam has studied prenatal exposure to various drugs for nearly 30 years, particularly nicotine and alcohol, though the work has focused more on THC as more states have legalized recreational marijuana use.

鈥淲e shifted to THC because since legalization of marijuana, the number of women smoking during pregnancy almost tripled,鈥� Suppiramaniam said. 鈥淎nd not just smoking; they think if you take a gummy, it's O.K., and doctors are prescribing medical marijuana for morning sickness. But nobody knew the effects on the brain. So, we were the first laboratory to develop a model to show those effects, and we got close to $2 million funding.鈥�

The second paper, published in the American Chemical Society's Chemical Biology Journal, involves a drug called AU403, applied as a skin patch, that seeks to improve the brain's ability to remove harmful Alzheimer's proteins, reduce inflammation, and support healthy communication between brain cells while minimizing unwanted side effects.

鈥淭his study developed a promising new experimental Alzheimer's drug that improved memory in mice while appearing to be much safer than earlier drugs, making it a strong candidate for future testing in humans,鈥� he said. 鈥淧revious drugs had serious side effects, but this one showed very limited side effects.鈥�

Suppiramaniam joined KSU in 2022 from Auburn University. He served as interim dean of the College of Science and Mathematics for the 2023-24 school year and mentored the 2023 Birla Carbon Scholars Symposium winner, biology graduate Katie Moerschel 鈥�24. He has mentored around 30 undergraduate researchers in his time at KSU.

Suppiramaniam holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from Auburn and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in Alabama.

鈥� Story by Dave Shelles

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 最色导航 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. 最色导航 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 最色导航 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.