A Smart Pill Dispenser for Opioid Management After Cancer Surgery
Efficacy of a Pill-Dispensing System to Increase Disposal of Unused Opioids and Reduce Refill Rates after Cancer Surgery
This project is testing a new smart pill dispenser and phone app to help patients safely manage their pain medication and properly dispose of any leftover opioids after cancer surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11058392 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
After cancer surgery, many patients receive opioid pain medication, but often have pills left over that can be misused. We are developing a new system that includes a secure, password-protected pill dispenser and a smartphone app. The app helps you get the right dose of medication when you need it, offers guidance on managing pain, and suggests when to reduce your opioid use. When you no longer need the medication, the device can be easily mailed back for safe disposal, helping to prevent unused pills from falling into the wrong hands.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be patients undergoing major cancer-related surgery who are prescribed opioid pain medication.
Not a fit: Patients who do not require opioid pain medication or are not undergoing surgery would not directly benefit from this specific system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this system could help patients manage their post-surgery pain more safely, reduce the amount of unused opioids, and decrease the risk of opioid misuse.
How similar studies have performed: While previous efforts to address opioid misuse have had mixed results, this project introduces a novel, all-encompassing pill-dispensing system.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hershman, Dawn — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Hershman, Dawn
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.