KRP Research Program

Khat is a natural plant that is widely used in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Yemen, and other surrounding countries in Africa as well as in countries in Europe and North America.

Khat consumption is increasing worldwide, although little research available to understand its effects on brain functions either acutely or chronically.

The planned research program will establish a collaborative, multidisciplinary research program addressing cognitive, affective, and behavioral disorders associated with khat use and the combined use of khat and tobacco.

We will conduct pilot research critical to developing larger future proposals to determine khat-related cognitive, biobehavioral, and emotion regulation deficits and utilize this information to guide the development of prevention and treatment programs.

Our international team is uniquely positioned to develop this program, and it possesses a combination of research and training expertise in psychology, neurobiology, neurotoxicology, and global health research.