Funded Projects

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Project # Project Title Research Focus Area Research Program Administering IC Institution(s) Investigator(s) Location(s) Year Awarded
1R61DA059033-01A1
Implementing a Patient Navigation Intervention Across a Health System to Address Treatment Entry Inequities Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Optimizing the Quality, Reach, and Impact of Addiction Services NIDA FRIENDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. ALEXANDER, KAREN (contact); GRYCZYNSKI, JAN Baltimore, MD 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-053
Summary:

Significant racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities affect access to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and have thus contributed to the opioid overdose crisis. Patient navigator interventions after hospitalization can improve access to treatment, but challenges prevent full adoption of these strategies. These include lack of coordination across institutions, inadequate data sharing, workforce shortages, and lack of awareness, especially in resource-limited communities. This project aims to develop a hospital system-wide patient navigation protocol that can be scaled up to address OUD treatment linkage and continuity after hospitalization.
1R44GM140795-01A1
Non-Opioid Post-Operative Pain Management Using Bupivacaine-loaded Poly(ester urea) Mesh Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NIGMS 21MEDTECH, LLC ALFARO, ARTHUR Durham, NC 2021
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-20-011
Summary:

There is an urgent need for non-opioid post-operative pain management solutions.  This research is developing a naturally absorbable polymer film that can release controlled amounts of the non-opioid analgesic bupivacaine – aiming to manage pain for several days following surgery. Project objectives are to optimize the timing of drug release, develop manufacturing standards, determine effective dosage for preserving motor function, and determine safety and efficacy in mouse models of neuropathic pain. Continued development of this film delivery system may lead to a new, non-opioid therapeutic strategy that could be combined with local anesthesia for up to 4 days after surgery to reduce or potentially eliminate opioids use.
1UC2AR082196-01
Innervation of the Knee and TMJ  Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain (RE-JOIN) NIAMS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ALLEN, KYLE D (contact); ALMARZA, ALEJANDRO JOSE; CAUDLE, ROBERT M Gainesville, FL 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain Consortium (RE-JOIN) (UC2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-AR-22-009
Summary:

A complex network of different nerve cell subtypes connects to joints in different ways throughout body regions, such as the knee and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects the lower jaw and skull. This project aims to identify disease-specific pain symptoms using clinically relevant rat models of TMJ and knee osteoarthritis – and compare findings with disease-specific pain symptoms in human patients with the same conditions. This research may lead to a better understanding of how different nerve cell subtypes contribute to joint pain as well as how these nerve cell subtypes change with age and disease.
1R21DA057598-01
Tracking the Opioid Epidemic with Social Media: An Early Warning System Cross-Cutting Research Leveraging Existing and Real-Time Opioid and Pain Management Data NIDA STANFORD UNIVERSITY ALTMAN, RUSS BIAGIO Redwood City, CA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Exploratory Data and Methods to Address Urgent Needs to Stem the Opioid Epidemic (R21- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-22-045
Summary:

A key component to addressing the current opioid overdose crisis is the ability to track dangerous opioid use in a timely manner so that public health agencies can plan accordingly. Direct reports about drug use and overdoses from social media might provide a useful early warning system that when combined with other sources, can provide policy makers and public health officials with powerful tools for monitoring this public health crisis. This project will explore the usefulness of Twitter and Reddit as a social media component of opioid use surveillance – in particular by monitoring mentions of fentanyl and synthetic opioids at various geographic levels (e.g., local or regional) and over time.
1UG1HD107580-01
UAB Clinical Site HEAL Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Pharmacological Treatments Enhanced Outcomes for Infants and Children Exposed to Opioids Advancing Clinical Trials in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal (ACT NOW) NICHD UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM  (AL) AMBALAVANAN, NAMASIVAYAM   Birmingham, AL 2021
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Pharmacological Treatments Comparative Effectiveness Trial - Clinical Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Number: RFA-HD-21-031
Summary:

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) is a condition that occurs when newborns are exposed to opioids during pregnancy. Symptoms often include tremors, excessive crying, sleep deprivation, and swallowing difficulties. Cases are rising, with a newborn affected by NOWS approximately every 15 minutes. Currently, healthcare providers in the United States lack standard, evidence-based treatments for NOWS. 

This project is part of a multi-center, randomized controlled clinical trial that directly compares NOWS treatments—morphine, methadone, and buprenorphine—and takes into account other types of non-drug therapies, such as behavioral interventions. The goal is to generate results that can inform clinical practice guidelines and give newborns with NOWS the best start possible. 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham routinely treats newborns with NOWS and has been part of NICHD’s Neonatal Research Network (NRN) for more than 25 years. The center has an excellent track record of enrollment in clinical studies, with successful follow-up to 2 years of age and beyond.