PhD Spotlight: Dr. Amrit Baral Explores Cannabis and Psychedelics in Cancer and Aging
Dr. Amrit Baral, a physician-scientist and epidemiologist from Pokhara, Nepal, earned his PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine on May 8, 2025. This marks a significant milestone in his interdisciplinary career that bridges medicine, public health, and substance use research. His dissertation, “Psychedelics, Cannabis, and Cancer: Prevalence, Association, and Trends from 2015–2022, Using a Nationally Representative Dataset of United States Older Adults,” sheds light on the evolving role of alternative therapies in cancer care among aging populations.
As classic psychedelics and cannabis gain traction for their potential to alleviate cancer-related symptoms and comorbidities, Dr. Baral’s work addresses critical gaps in knowledge regarding their use among older adults.
Drawing on data from the 2015–2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, his dissertation aimed to:
1. Examine trends in lifetime cannabis and psychedelic use among U.S. adults aged ≥50 years.
2. Assess variations in use by cancer history and type.
3. Investigate potential associations with prostate cancer.
A distinguished interdisciplinary team mentored his dissertation: Drs. Denise Vidot, Way Hlaing, Yue Pan, and Paulo S. Pinheiro from the University of Miami, and Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu from Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Baral is a founding member of the Global Cannabis and Psychedelics Research Collaboratory at the University of Miami. He serves as Lead Biostatistician for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-funded Herbal Heart Study—led by Principal Investigator Dr. Denise Vidot—investigating the effects of cannabis, cannabinoids, and routes of administration on sub-clinical cardiovascular risk. He also serves as Study Coordinator for a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded project at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, led by Dr. Vidot, which explores cannabis and psychedelics use patterns among cancer patients.
Dr. Baral was trained as a physician in China, practiced clinical medicine in Nepal, and earned his Master of Public Health degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he received the Dean’s Scholarship for Academic Achievement and Global Diversity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as a Disease Investigation Specialist at the Chester County Health Department in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Baral has published numerous research articles in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and presented his work at prestigious national and international conferences, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Public Health Association (APHA), and the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) annual meetings.
Dr. Baral is currently preparing multiple manuscripts based on his doctoral dissertation and collaborative projects for publication in peer-reviewed journals. He aims to advance evidence-based approaches to integrative oncology, substance use, and healthy aging.
Read Further: ASCO24 Updates: Amrit Baral on Cannabis Use in Cancer Patients.
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