Funded Projects

Researchers will develop multi-organ, microphysiological systems (MPSs) based on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived midbrain-fated dopamine (DA)/gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons on a three-dimensional platform that incorporates microglia, blood–brain barrier (BBB), and liver metabolism. RNA sequencing and metabolomics analyses will complement the primary DA release measure to identify novel mechanisms contributing to chronic opioid-induced plasticity in DA responsiveness. The chronic pain-relevant aspect of the model will be realized by examination of aversive kappa-mediated opioid effects on DA transmission in addition to commonly abused mu opioid receptor agonists, and by incorporation of inflammatory-mediating microglia. Incorporation of BBB and liver metabolism modules into the microphysiologic system platform will permit screening of drugs. Throughput will be increased by integration of online sensors for online detection of DA and other analytes. Researchers will use a curated set of 100 chemical genomics probes.

Individuals who have been previously incarcerated have a significantly higher risk of dying from opioid overdose, particularly in the first two weeks after release. Providing medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to individuals on probation or parole decreases the rate of relapse and recidivism, and increases retention in substance abuse treatment. This study will test a systems-change approach for increasing use of MOUD across a network of seven probation and parole sites to improve linkage to the continuum of evidence-based care for justice-involved individuals. Implementation outcomes include program acceptability, adoption, penetration, sustainability, and costs. Client-level effectiveness outcomes include retention, satisfaction, opioid use, opioid overdoses, recidivism, linkage to OUD treatment, and utilization of recovery services. Targeting the intersection of justice and community-based care has substantial potential for addressing the opioid crisis.

This project will develop a human cell-based model of the afferent pain pathway in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The research team’s approach utilizes novel human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived phenotypes in a model that combines 3D organoid culture with microfabricated systems on an integrated, three-dimensional (3D) microelectrode array. Researchers will establish the feasibility of a physiologically relevant, human 3D model of the afferent pain pathway that will be useful for evaluation of candidate analgesic drugs. They will then improve the physiological relevance of the system by promoting neural network maturation before demonstrating the system’s utility in modeling adverse effects of opioids and screening compounds to validate the model. Completion of the study objective will establish novel protocols for deriving dorsal horn neurons from hPSCs and create the first human microphysiological model of the spinal cord dorsal horn afferent sensory pathway.

Rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome have reached a staggering 6.5 per 1,000 births nationwide, creating an urgent need to identify how in-utero exposure to opioids and associated risk factors influence the developing brain. A multidisciplinary team will address these challenges in Oregon, a state particularly hard hit by the opioid epidemic. Through linking sites, the impact of the Phase I project is enhanced and will provide critical information to support a national-level effort for Phase II of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study. Aim 1 will develop, implement, and evaluate innovative recruitment and retention strategies for high-risk populations. Aim 2 will address anticipated challenges of the planned Phase II study by implementing and evaluating a multi-site, standardized research protocol including multimodal MRI of placenta, fetus, neonate, and 24-month-old brain; biospecimen collection; and assessment of substance use and other key domains. Aim 3 will evaluate data acquisition, processing, and statistical considerations to maximize data quality, usability, and integration across sites.

As the opioid crisis claims more and more lives, there is a need to develop new, safer analgesics. Biased agonists could activate beneficial signaling pathways while avoiding those that cause adverse effects. This project aims to speed the discovery of non-addictive analgesics by providing drug discovery teams with simpler, more robust, more quantitative assays for agonist bias. The goal is to optimize and test new assays for agonist bias at NOP, D3 dopamine, CB1 cannabinoid, and OPRM1 opioid receptors, which couple to both the Gi and ?-arrestin signaling pathway, and create new tools to improve the analysis of structure/activity relationships that can be used in drug discovery and distribute to researchers who are developing new drugs for OUD.

An extensive literature provides compelling evidence that selective antagonists or negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of the metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor, mGlu5, have exciting potential as a novel approach for treatment of multiple pain conditions that could provide sustained antinociceptive activity without the serious adverse effects and abuse liability associated with opioids. Researchers have developed a novel series of highly selective mGlu5 NAMs that are structurally unrelated to previous compounds, have properties for further development, and avoid the formation of toxic metabolites that were associated with previous mGlu5 NAMs. Based on existing preclinical models, as well as clinical trial data showing efficacy of an mGlu5 NAM in migraine patients, researchers anticipate that their compounds will have broad-spectrum analgesic activity in patients with a variety of chronic pain conditions.

Many states across the country have experienced an increase in children involved in the foster care system because of young parental opioid and methamphetamine use disorders (OUD; MUD). The Families Actively Improving Relationships (FAIR) program is a recently developed, rigorously evaluated, intensive outpatient treatment program for parents involved in the child welfare system for parental OUD and/or MUD. The FAIR effectiveness trial showed the potential for FAIR to be adapted as a prevention program, and to be implemented in counties with low service availability and access. This project will adapt and implement FAIR for prevention in collaboration with Oregon State Department of Human Services (DHS). Across two counties, parents referred by DHS for OUD or MUD with risk for escalation will be recruited and randomized to receive the adapted FAIR as prevention, or standard case management and referral. Outcomes will inform further FAIR refinement and potential broader scale-up.

Acupuncture has been found to be effective in treating chronic lower back pain (cLBP) in adults. Yet trials have rarely included older adults, who have more comorbidities and may respond differently from typical trial participants. To fill this gap, the study team will conduct a three-arm trial of 828 adults ?65 years of age with cLBP to evaluate acupuncture versus usual care. They will compare a standard 12-week course of acupuncture with an enhanced course of acupuncture (12-week standard course, plus 12-week maintenance course) to usual medical care for cLBP. If successful, this pragmatic RCT will offer clear guidance about the value of acupuncture for improving functional status and reducing pain intensity and pain interference for older adults with cLBP.

According to SAMHSA’s 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 11.4 million persons in the U.S. report past-year opioid misuse; out of them, only 2.1 million individuals met criteria for an OUD. Very little is known about efficacious interventions for those who do not meet criteria for moderate/severe OUD (i.e., subthreshold OUD). The prevalence of subthreshold OUD in primary care settings is 5 percent to 10 percent, with higher rates (21 percent to 29 percent) among those receiving prescribed opioids. Although they are at high risk of developing moderate/severe OUD and/or dying from an overdose, little or no empirical evidence exists for pragmatic prevention interventions that can be adopted at integrated general medical settings. To study the efficacy of prevention interventions to arrest the progression from risky opioid use, researchers will test the efficacy of a STOP intervention in primary care settings. STOP adopts an early intervention approach, based on a collaborative care model to prevent progression to moderate/severe OUD, and consists of a practice-embedded nurse care manager who provides patient education and supports the primary care provider (PCP) in engaging, monitoring and guiding patients who have risky opioid use; brief advice delivered to patients by their PCP; and phone counseling of patients by behavioral health providers to motivate and support behavior change. Researchers will determine whether STOP reduces risky opioid use and examine the impact of STOP on progression to moderate/severe OUD, overdose risk behavior and overdose events in adults with risky use of illicit or prescription opioids.

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 Mason Coordination and Translation Center (MCTC) will manage logistics, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of findings and products from the JCOIN network. This will include establishing infrastructure to support research education and rapid response and pilot research.

The U.S. is in the midst of a devastating opioid epidemic. Since 1999, the number of overdose (OD) deaths involving opioids has quadrupled. These trends are magnified among American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) compared to other racial/ethnic groups. AI/ANs are second only to Whites in the rate of OD mortality (8/100,000 versus 12/100,000 deaths, respectively). Medications for opioid use disorder (OUD; i.e., methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone) are considered the most effective treatment, reducing mortality and increasing abstinence and retention. However, numerous barriers limit the uptake of medications for OUD in tribal communities and within urban treatment settings serving AI/AN individuals. This is a two-phase formative research study to develop and test an implementation intervention for programs to provide medications to treat OUD specifically with AI/AN consumers. The objective of Phase I (12 months) is to develop a culturally centered implementation intervention to integrate medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) into health care/addiction specialty settings. The objective of Phase II (24 months) is to conduct a preliminary test of the implementation intervention at four sites serving AI/AN communities. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods will be used throughout both phases. This study will help with decreasing stigma and increase the utilization of MOUD in health care settings that serve AI/AN populations.

A primary factor contributing to acute or recurrent back injury is overexertion via excessive peak and cumulative forces on the back and the primary factors involved in the progression of acute low back injury to chronic low back pain (cLBP) include maladaptive motor control strategies, muscle hyperactivity, reduced movement variability, and the development of fear cognitions. This project will focus on the development of robotic apparel with integrated biofeedback components that can reduce exertion; encourage safe, varied movement strategies; and promote recovery. Robotic apparel will be capable of providing supportive forces to the back and hip joints through adaptive control algorithms that respond to dynamic movements and becoming fully transparent when assistance is no longer needed. This technology can be used to prevent cLBP caused by overexertion and provide a new tool to physical therapists and the clinical community to enhance rehabilitation programs.

Emergency department (ED)-initiated buprenorphine/naloxone (BUP) with referral for ongoing BUP is superior to referral alone in engaging patients with untreated opioid use disorder (OUD) in treatment at 30 days and is cost-effective. However, logistical barriers exist in translating research into practice. New BUP formulations such as the extended-release injectable BUP (CAM2038, XR-BUP) hold promise in addressing many of the barriers more effectively than sublingual buprenorphine (SL-BUP) by treating the patients’ symptoms for up to seven days. This study will recruit, train and provide resources to 30 ED sites throughout the U.S. using implementation facilitation strategies to address stigma and provide ED-initiated BUP for patients presenting with OUD who are not receiving medications for OUD. Once implementation is adequately achieved, the sites will conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the effectiveness of SL-BUP versus XR-BUP on ED patients’ engagement in formal addiction treatment seven days after their ED visit. In addition, in an ancillary component of the study, the use of XR-BUP will be assessed in ED patients with Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) scores of