Funded Projects

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Project # Project Title Research Focus Area Research Program Administering IC Institution(s) Investigator(s) Location(s) Year Awarded
1R24DA057632-01
Collaborative Hub for Emerging Adult Recovery Research (CHEARR) Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Recovery Research Networks NIDA UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT ZAJAC, KRISTYN Farmington, CT 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Research Networks for the Study of Recovery Support Services for Persons Treated with Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (R24 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-22-043
Summary:

The opioid crisis has been particularly devastating to adolescents and young adults between 16 and 25 years old. Recovery support services in community settings can help these individuals who take medications for opioid use disorder find a path to recovery. This project will develop a network of advanced researchers, recovery support specialists, adolescents and young adults in recovery, and other key community stakeholders to help rapidly advance the science of recovery support services. This research will focus in particular on continuing care services specialized for adolescents and young adults who currently take or who have taken medications for opioid use disorder.
3R01MH112148-03S1
Improving the Identification and Management of Suicide Risk among Patients Using Prescription Opioids New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction Optimizing Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder and Mental Health Conditions NIMH UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT ASELTINE, ROBERT H Farmington, CT 2020
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest: HEAL Supplements to Improve the Treatment and Management of Common Co-occurring Conditions and Suicide Risk in People Affected by the Opioid Crisis
NOFO Number: NOT-MH-20-025
Summary:

The project will address gaps in both risk identification and clinical management by utilizing comprehensive clinical data from a mature health information exchange containing more than 2.3 million patients across the spectrum of clinical care (hospitals, primary care, specialty care, community health centers, urgent care) to develop a statistically robust method to measure suicide risk associated with prescription opioid use. First, the team will couple data fusion techniques with machine learning-based approaches in identifying the clinical and demographic characteristics associated with elevated risk of suicidal behavior among prescription opioid users. Second, the team will develop clinical profiles of patients with higher risk of suicidal behavior associated with prescription opioids, and to incorporate these profiles in a clinical decision support platform that can be used for identification and intervention at the point of care. The clinical decision support tool developed under this proposal will provide a generalizable platform that could be extended to other more conventional opioid related outcomes such as OUD and overdose.
1R01DA056660-01
Target Specificity of Tabernanthalog Treatment in Opioid Use Disorder Novel Therapeutic Options for Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose Focusing Medication Development to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose NIDA University of Colorado, Denver PETERS, JAMIE (contact); HEINSBROEK, JASPER Denver, Colorado 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Novel Targets for Opioid Use Disorders and Opioid Overdose (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-22-031
Summary:

Currently available treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) are insufficient for many patients. Novel compounds that can promote alterations in brain connections (i.e., neural plasticity) possess enormous potential for improving substance use disorder (SUD) treatments. Psychedelic compounds induce neural plasticity and can elicit long-lasting, beneficial impacts on a wide variety of SUDs. However, these compounds have significant side effects, including hallucinations and cardiotoxicity. Researchers have developed a novel, synthetic derivative of the psychedelic ibogaine, called tabernanthalog, that does not have these side effects. This compound has demonstrated both short- and long-term therapeutic effects in a preclinical model of OUD. This research study will determine the molecular and neural mechanisms through which tabernanthalog affects opioid seeking. It will also evaluate whether the effects are specific to opioids and do not alter response to natural rewards and will examine the efficacy of tabernanthalog in a preclinical model of comorbid opioid and alcohol use disorder.
3U19MH113135-04S1
Social Connectedness and Behavioral Health Risks Among AI/AN Urban Adults New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction Preventing Opioid Use Disorder NIMH UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER MANSON, SPERO MARTIN Aurora, CO 2020
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest(NOSI): HEAL Initiative: Social Network Analyses to Reduce American Indian and Alaska Native Opioid Use Disorder and Related Risks for Suicide and Mental Health Disorders
NOFO Number: NOT-DA-20-033
Summary:

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth and young adults experience disproportionately high rates of suicide, mental health disorders, traumatic life events, and substance use disorder. More effective, culturally informed interventions are needed that are tailored to the specific needs of this population. This supplement will examine how a person?s social network contributes to their behavioral health (suicide risk, mental health, substance use) status and how this network can be leveraged to improve the uptake of prevention interventions. The long-term goal is to disseminate and translate the lessons learned into practical policy, organizational changes, and preventive innovations that optimize patient-centered health outcomes and ultimately reduce or eliminate the dramatic and tragic suicide-related health disparities among urban AI/AN YYAs.
1R61DA057610-01
Improving Pain Management and Opioid Safety Through a Systemwide, Data Driven Evaluation of the CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline Best Practices and the Use of Clinical Decision Support Cross-Cutting Research Translating Data 2 Action to Prevent Overdose NIDA UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER HOPPE, JASON Aurora, CO 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: HEAL Data2Action Innovation Projects
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-22-051 
Summary:

Clinical decision support tools help clinicians make treatment decisions based on routinely collected data and offer a promising strategy to implement evidence-based practices for safe and effective pain management. This project will use clinical decision support tools embedded into electronic health records to help healthcare providers make treatment decisions that align with opioid prescribing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The project will also use information from prescription drug monitoring programs, insurance claims, and mortality data to evaluate patient outcomes. This research will evaluate how prescribing practices that align with CDC guidelines affect patient outcomes and whether clinical decision support tools provide an advantage over standard care practices for pain management.
3R37DA047926-02S1
Social networks of young American Indian adolescents and their parents:Characteristics, connections, and response to intervention New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction Preventing Opioid Use Disorder NIDA UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER WHITESELL, NANCY RUMBAUGH Aurora, CO 2020
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest(NOSI): HEAL Initiative: Social Network Analyses to Reduce American Indian and Alaska Native Opioid Use Disorder and Related Risks for Suicide and Mental Health Disorders
NOFO Number: NOT-DA-20-033
1UG3DA059409-01
Improving Buprenorphine Retention with Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation for Patients with Co-occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction Optimizing Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder and Mental Health Conditions NIDA UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI SPRUNGER, JOEL GREGORY Cincinnati, OH 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Therapeutics Development for Opioid Use Disorder in Patients with Co-occurring Mental Disorders (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-049
Summary:

Drug checking services provide individuals who use drugs with information about the true contents of their purchases, and thus may help prevent overdoses. However, current technologies are either costly, technically complex, and non-portable or subject to false signals and restricted in their detection capabilities. This project will continue development of a new, simple-to-use, point-of-care analytical technology (DoseCheck) that can rapidly detect established drug threats in a sample and recognize newly emerging drugs. The project will also attempt to adapt DoseCheck to provide rapid results in emergency overdose situations and improve the analytical capabilities of medical examiners in under-resourced jurisdictions.
1R01NS113243-01
Targeting sensory ganglia and glial signaling for the treatment of acute and chronic pain Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NINDS UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI BERTA, TEMUGIN Cincinnati, OH 2019
NOFO Title: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-18-043
Summary:

There is increasing evidence that satellite glial cells (SGCs) surrounding neurons in the dorsal root ganglia modulate sensory processing and are important for chronic pain. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) signaling occurs in SGCs and has unique plethoric functions in inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases, the tumor necrosis factor-?-converting enzyme, and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, all of which have been implicated in inflammation and pain. This study will test the hypothesis that expression of TIMP3 in SGCs is critical for the neuroimmune homeostasis in sensory ganglia, as well as for the development of pain, and therefore could be a novel therapeutic target for acute and chronic pain. Given the expression of TIMP3 in human SGCs and the strong validation of multiple small molecules targeting TIMP3 signaling, including FDA-approved drugs, in various animal models of pain and in cultured human SGCs, the successful completion of this research project has a high likelihood of rapid translation into therapeutic testing in inflammatory pain conditions that are a risk for opioid abuse.
3R01NS045594-14S1
Study of Activity Dependent Sympathetic Sprouting Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NINDS UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI JUN-MING, Zhang Cincinnati, OH 2019
NOFO Title: Administrative Supplements for Validation of Novel Non-Addictive Pain Targets (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NOT-NS-18-073
Summary:

Many chronic pain conditions are dependent upon activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic blockade is used clinically in chronic pain conditions, but the clinical and preclinical evidence for this practice is incomplete. We propose that certain pathological pain conditions require intact sympathetic innervation of the sensory nervous system at the level of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and that release of sympathetic transmitters enhances local inflammation and leads to pain. Our preliminary data show large, rapid, and long-lasting reduction of pain behaviors and inflammatory responses following a"microsympathectomy" (mSYMPX) in both neuropathic and inflammatory pain models. Our aims are to: 1) characterize the effects of mSYMPX on pain and on local inflammation in the DRG; 2) explore the molecular mechanisms for sympathetic regulation of inflammatory responses in the DRG; and 3) assess the functional role of sympathetic transmitters in the sympathetically mediated inflammatory responses in the DRG.
3UG1DA013732-20S3
Medication treatment for Opioid-dependent expecting Mothers (MOMs): a pragmatic randomized trial comparing Extended-Release and Daily Buprenorphine formulations (CTN-0080) Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Enhancing the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network to Address Opioids NIDA University of Cincinnati Winhusen, Theresa Cincinnati, OH 2019
NOFO Title: Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: PA-18-591
Summary:

The growing opioid use epidemic in the U.S. has been associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of pregnant opioid-dependent women and neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is associated with adverse health effects for the infant and with costly hospitalizations. Maintenance with sublingual (SL) buprenorphine (BUP) is efficacious for opioid use disorder but has disadvantages that may be heightened in pregnant women, including the potential for poor adherence, treatment dropout, and negative maternal/fetal effects associated with daily BUP peak-trough cycles. Extended release (XR) formulations may address some of these disadvantages. The primary objective of CTN-0080 is to evaluate the impact of treating opioid use disorder in pregnant women (n = 300) with BUP-XR, compared to BUP-SL, on maternal-infant outcomes. Other objectives include testing a conceptual model of the mechanisms by which BUP-XR may improve maternal-infant outcomes, relative to BUP-SL; determining the economic value of BUP-XR, compared with BUP-SL, to treat OUD in pregnant women; and evaluating the impact of BUP-XR, relative to BUP-SL, on neurodevelopment when the infant/child is approximately 12 and 24 months of age. Ultimately, this study will help in increasing access to treatment as well as provide quality care for pregnant/postpartum women.
3UG1DA013732-20S2
Validation of a Community Pharmacy-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Risk Screening Tool (PHARMSCREEN) Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Enhancing the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network to Address Opioids NIDA University of Cincinnati Winhusen, Theresa Cincinnati, OH 2019
NOFO Title: Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: PA-18-591
Summary:

Community pharmacies are optimal—yet underutilized—settings for identifying individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and increasing their access to treatment. Approximately 93 percent of individuals in the U.S. live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy. The most common opioid-related tool available to pharmacists is the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), which provides highly limited information and support for clinical decision making. Appriss Health, the largest U.S. PDMP vendor, covering 42 states, has developed an opioid risk measure, the NarxScore. This study will clinically validate the NarxScore metric and identify high, moderate and low opioid risk thresholds to inform OUD care management within urban and rural community pharmacies. This is a prospective cross-sectional comprehensive OUD risk and behavioral/physical health survey administered electronically with patients (n = 1,523) filling opioid medications in urban/rural community pharmacies in Ohio (pharmacy sites: n = 12) and Indiana (pharmacy sites: n = 3), states that continue to have disproportionately high rates of overdose and opioid prescribing. Correlation, regression and kappa statistics will be calculated for validation; receiver operating curves with sensitivity/specificity values will be employed for threshold identification (with >95 percent power to detect an area of 0.7 under the curve value).
3UG1DA013732-19S3
Medication treatment for Opioid-dependent expecting Mothers (MOMs): A Pragmatic Randomized Trial Comparing Extended-Release and Daily Buprenorphine Formulations (CTN-0080) Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Enhancing the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network to Address Opioids NIDA UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI WINHUSEN, THERESA M Cincinnati, OH 2019
NOFO Title: Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: PA-18-591
Summary:

The growing opioid use epidemic in the U.S. has been associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of pregnant opioid-dependent women and neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is associated with adverse health effects for the infant and with costly hospitalizations. Maintenance with sublingual (SL) buprenorphine (BUP) is efficacious for opioid use disorder but has disadvantages that may be heightened in pregnant women, including the potential for poor adherence, treatment dropout, and negative maternal/fetal effects associated with daily BUP peak-trough cycles. Extended release (XR) formulations may address some of these disadvantages. The primary objective of CTN-0080 is to evaluate the impact of treating opioid use disorder in pregnant women (n = 300) with BUP-XR, compared to BUP-SL, on maternal-infant outcomes. Other objectives include testing a conceptual model of the mechanisms by which BUP-XR may improve maternal-infant outcomes, relative to BUP-SL; determining the economic value of BUP-XR, compared with BUP-SL, to treat OUD in pregnant women; and evaluating the impact of BUP-XR, relative to BUP-SL, on neurodevelopment when the infant/child is approximately 12 and 24 months of age. Ultimately, this study will help in increasing access to treatment as well as provide quality care for pregnant/postpartum women.
3UG1DA013732-19S4
Validation of a Community Pharmacy-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Risk Screening Tool (PHARMSCREEN) Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Enhancing the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network to Address Opioids NIDA University of Cincinnati WINHUSEN, THERESA M Cincinnati, OH 2019
NOFO Title: Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: PA-18-591
Summary:

Community pharmacies are optimal—yet underutilized—settings for identifying individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and increasing their access to treatment. Approximately 93 percent of individuals in the U.S. live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy. The most common opioid-related tool available to pharmacists is the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), which provides highly limited information and support for clinical decision making. Appriss Health, the largest U.S. PDMP vendor, covering 42 states, has developed an opioid risk measure, the NarxScore. This study will clinically validate the NarxScore metric and identify high, moderate and low opioid risk thresholds to inform OUD care management within urban and rural community pharmacies. This is a prospective cross-sectional comprehensive OUD risk and behavioral/physical health survey administered electronically with patients (n = 1,523) filling opioid medications in urban/rural community pharmacies in Ohio (pharmacy sites: n = 12) and Indiana (pharmacy sites: n = 3), states that continue to have disproportionately high rates of overdose and opioid prescribing. Correlation, regression and kappa statistics will be calculated for validation; receiver operating curves with sensitivity/specificity values will be employed for threshold identification (with >95 percent power to detect an area of 0.7 under the curve value).
1R01DA057665-01
Promoting Remote Harm Reduction and Secondary Services in Rural Settings (PROMOTE) Study Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Harm Reduction Approaches to Reduce Overdose Deaths NIDA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PHO, MAI TUYET (contact); MACKESY-AMITI, MARY ELLEN Chicago, IL 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Harm Reduction Policies, Practices, and Modes of Delivery for Persons with Substance Use Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-22-046
Summary:

Access to harm reduction services are often limited in rural areas. Secondary distribution is a potentially promising strategy for rural areas that involves people sharing harm reduction supplies such as naloxone or fentanyl test strips with other people who use drugs that do not come into contact with harm reduction service providers. This project aims to examine drug use and use of harm reduction services among people in rural communities, as well as highlight factors that make people more or less likely to use secondary distribution approaches.
1OT2OD030208-01
Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Data Platform Office of the Director UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO GROSSMAN, ROBERT L. CHICAGO, IL 2020
NOFO Number: OTA-20-007
Summary:

The HEAL Initiative is establishing a HEAL Data Ecosystem to help investigators manage and share HEAL-generated data, and quickly and efficiently disseminate HEAL results broadly to stakeholders. The HEAL Platform, built by the University of Chicago, will enable broad sharing of HEAL data by linking data stored in various locations, annotated and curated to various extents, to one central interface where studies, data, and digital assets can be discovered and accessed via metadata query. The Platform will also provide secure workspaces so that under appropriate conditions, data can be pulled from disparate repositories and computed on in the same cloud space, using tools and analytic suites provided within. The Platform team will collaborate closely with the HEAL Data Stewardship Group (Renascence Computing Institute at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and RTI, International) to meet the needs and goals of the HEAL Data Ecosystem.
1U2CDA050098-01
Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) NIDA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCHNEIDER, JOHN (contact); POLLACK, HAROLD ALEXANDER Chicago, IL 2019
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-19-023
Summary:

Many individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) pass through the criminal justice system over the course of their life. Improved access to high-quality, evidence-based addiction treatment in justice settings will be critical to addressing the opioid crisis. Through the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN), the National Institutes of Health will study approaches to increase high-quality care for people with opioid misuse and OUD in justice populations. The Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center (MAARC) will provide data infrastructure support across the network using advanced methods that provide best-in-class data storage, management and security with added value to clinical trials through products of forecasting, rapid real-time assessments, explication and exploration of trial findings, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
1UG1DA050066-01
Reducing Opioid Mortality in Illinois (ROMI) Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) NIDA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO POLLACK, HAROLD ALEXANDER (contact); PHO, MAI TUYET; SCHNEIDER, JOHN Chicago, IL 2019
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) Clinical Research Centers (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-19-025
Summary:

Many opioid harm reduction services are designed and implemented to serve urban populations in traditional centers of opioid use and leave rural patients underserved. The proposed project seeks to demonstrate improved MAT participation, naloxone distribution, and syringe support services (SSPs) among justice-involved persons with opioid use disorders, and thus improve health and criminal justice outcomes across diverse urban and rural settings in Illinois. Reducing Opioid Mortality in Illinois (ROMI) is a multi-site trial that will be carried out using a hub-and-spoke model, with centralized long-standing social services infrastructure at the Community Outreach Intervention Projects (COIP) hosted at the University of Illinois at Chicago. COIP provides case management/transition of care services to justice-involved opioid users, extending resources and technical assistance to less-populated rural areas hardest hit by the opioid epidemic.
1UG3TR003081-01
Multi-organ human-on-a-chip system to address overdose and acute and chronic efficacy and off-target toxicity Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Translational Research to Advance Testing of Novel Drugs and Human Cell-Based Screening Platforms to Treat Pain and Opioid Use Disorder NCATS UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA HICKMAN, JAMES J (contact); SHULER, MICHAEL L Orlando, FL 2019
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Tissue Chips to Model Nociception, Addiction, and Overdose (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-TR-19-003
Summary:

This project will build overdose models for fentanyl, methadone, codeine, and morphine in a multi-organ system and evaluate the acute and repeat dose, or chronic effects, of overdose treatments as well as off-target toxicity. Researchers developed a system using human cells in a pumpless multi-organ platform that allows continuous recirculation of a blood surrogate for up to 28 days. They will develop two overdose models for male and female phenotypes based on pre-B?tzinger Complex neurons and will integrate functional immune components that enable organ-specific or systemic monocyte actuation. Models for cardiomyopathy and infection will be utilized. Researchers will establish a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model of overdose and treatment to enable prediction for a range of variables. We will use a serum-free medium with microelectrode arrays and cantilever systems integrated on chip that allow noninvasive electronic and mechanical readouts of organ function.
1R01DE029202-01
Validation of blocking TSP4/Cava2d1 interaction as a new target for neuropathic pain Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NIDCR UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE LUO, ZHIGANG DAVID Irvine, CA 2019
NOFO Title: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-18-043
Summary:

Validation of novel pain targets is a critical step toward the development of new non-addictive therapeutic agents for chronic pain management. Recent findings suggest that nerve injury-induced concurrent upregulation of the calcium channel alpha-2delta-1 subunit (CaValpha-2-delta-1) and thrombospondin-4 (TSP4) proteins in sensory and spinal cord neurons contributes to neuropathic pain development. Specifically, induction of aberrant excitatory synapse formation and sensitization of neurotransmission in spinal cord underlies this process; accordingly, a target site has been identified in the TSP4 that plays a critical role in mediating these pathological changes upon interaction with the CaValpha-2-delta-1 protein. This project will validate this novel target site in TSP4 for development of non-addictive pain medications, utilizing multidisciplinary approaches to investigate if blocking and genetic deletion of the target site can block or prevent the development of chronic pain state, aberrant excitatory synapse formation, and spinal cord neuron sensitization after injury in multiple rodent neuropathic pain models.
1K99AT012658-01
A Role for Peripheral NAAA-Regulated Lipid Signaling in the Control of Hyperalgesic Priming Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NCCIH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE FOTIO, YANNICK Irvine, CA 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-22-022
Summary:

Chronic pain remains a significant global heath challenge. Development of novel safe and effective treatments requires a deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the development of chronic pain. One protein that has been implicated in controlling the transition from acute to chronic pain is N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA). This project will evaluate how NAAA controls pain susceptibility after an acute insult and how this affects the emergence of chronic pain.
3R01DE029202-01S4
Validation of Blocking TSP4/Cava2d1 Interaction as a New Target for Neuropathic Pain Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NIDCR UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE LUO, ZHIGANG DAVID Irvine, CA 2022
NOFO Title: NOT-NS-20-107; PA-21-071
NOFO Number: Notice of Special Interest to Encourage Eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to Apply for PA-20-222: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Summary:

An important step for identifying new, non-addictive chronic pain treatments is the search for new, non-opioid molecular targets that reflect the human condition. Recent findings show an increase in levels of two proteins (calcium channel alpha-2delta-1 subunit and thrombospondin) in sensory and spinal cord neurons after nerve injury. This increase is associated with the development of neuropathic pain. This project will determine if chronic injury to key nerve fibers involved in pain cause changes in rat behavior that indicate altered mood. These nerve fibers include the trigeminal nerve that communicates pain, touch, and temperature sensations from the face to the brain and the L5/6 spinal nerves often associated with back and leg pain. This research will also test whether small protein-like molecules (peptides) that block calcium channel alpha-2delta-1 subunit and thrombospondin also block the mood-related behaviors.
3R33AT010606-03S1
Adapting the HOPE Online Support Intervention to Increase MAT Uptake Among OUD Patients Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Behavioral Research to Improve Medication-Based Treatment NCCIH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE YOUNG, SEAN Irvine, CA 2021
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) regarding the Availability of Administrative Supplements to Support Strategies to Increase Participant Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement in Clinical Studies
NOFO Number: NOT-NS-21-025
Summary:

Effective medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of people with opioid use disorder; however, only a small fraction of patients who would benefit from these medications actually use them. Several reasons contribute to low MOUD use, including lack of insurance; lack of knowledge about the medications, both among patients and providers; stigma associated with MOUD; and social norms. Innovative methods are needed to help increase MOUD use. One such option is peer-led interventions that might increase patients’ interest in MOUD. One existing peer-led intervention is the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) online community intervention that has been designed to reduce stigma and increase health behavior change among stigmatized populations, such as people living with HIV. This project will investigate whether and how HOPE can be adapted for people with opioid use disorder. It will assess whether HOPE can effectively increase MOUD requests, MOUD uptake, and sustained adherence to MOUD as well as reduce overdose rates.  
3R01DE029202-01S2
Validation of Blocking TSP4/Cava2d1 Interaction as a New Target for Neuropathic Pain Cross-Cutting Research Leveraging Existing and Real-Time Opioid and Pain Management Data NIDCR UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE LUO, ZHIGANG DAVID Irvine, CA 2022
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Availability of Administrative Supplements for Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative awardees to make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) through the HEAL Data Ecosystem
NOFO Number: NOT-OD-22-033
Summary:

This research provides support to strengthen data management, data sharing, and data readiness efforts within the HEAL Initiative. This support further fosters collaboration among HEAL awardees and enables maximal data discoverability, interoperability, and reuse by aligning with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. It also provides an opportunity for existing HEAL Initiative award recipients to increase data “FAIR”-ness, participate in coordinated HEAL Initiative activities to build community around data sharing, and foster sustainability of HEAL Initiative digital assets.
3U19AR076737-01S2
REACH Participant Diversity Program Clinical Research in Pain Management Back Pain Consortium Research Program NIAMS UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO LOTZ, JEFFREY C San Francisco, CA 2021
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) regarding the Availability of Administrative Supplements to Support Strategies to Increase Participant Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement in Clinical Studies
NOFO Number: NOT-NS-21-025
Summary:

The University of California, San Francisco, as part of the Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program, has established a Core Center for Patient-centric Mechanistic Phenotyping in Chronic Low Back Pain (REACH). The main goal of REACH is to define different subtypes (phenotypes) of chronic low back pain as well as to identify underlying pain mechanisms that can lead to effective, personalized treatments for patients across all population subgroups. To achieve this goal, REACH is, or will be, participating in several clinical trials, and it is imperative that the patients participating in these trials reflect the diversity of the U.S. population. Therefore, this project seeks to adapt methods that have successfully improved minority participation in other settings as well as to develop and deploy digital strategies that can promote recruitment and engagement of patients from marginalized populations.
1R61NS129050-01
Integrating Nonpharmacologic Strategies for Pain with Inclusion, Respect, and Equity (INSPIRE): Tailored Digital Tools, Telehealth Coaching, and Primary Care Coordination Clinical Research in Pain Management Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management NINDS University of California, San Francisco SATTERFIELD, JASON M San Francisco, CA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Number: NS22-002
Summary:

There is a need to improve access to treatments and address the stigma, bias, and mistrust that harm and isolate people with chronic pain, especially those from ethnic and racial minority populations. The Integrating Nonpharmacologic Strategies for Pain with Inclusion, Respect, and Equity (INSPIRE) Chronic Pain (CP) intervention blends cognitive-behavioral therapy, physical therapy, mindfulness, and pain education, and is delivered by a trilingual mobile app and supported by a telehealth pain coach who coordinates with doctors. The coach will collect and summarize patient reports on pain, depression, anxiety, substance use, and social factors, and share them with healthcare providers. In this project, researchers will create the digital tool and coaching protocol, develop educational and implementation strategies for healthcare providers, and conduct a pilot test. They will then perform a randomized clinical trial to compare INSPIRE to current treatment, analyze its effects, and evaluate outcomes.