Big data insights to improve opioid-use disorder treatment during pregnancy
Official title: Using Big Data to Optimize Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11381804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A skilled clinician-researcher is using large health data to understand which FDA-approved meds for opioid use disorder work best for pregnant people and how access to care affects safety and outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $195,998 |
| NIH project number | 5K08DA061258-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are considering or currently receiving FDA-approved pharmacotherapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not seeking pharmacotherapy or not accessing care may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on real-world evidence to compare FDA-approved treatments (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) for pregnant patients with opioid use disorder. It will use population health methods and target trial emulation to estimate effectiveness and safety across different regions and geographies. The study aims to identify which communities have the greatest overdose risk and how treatment availability influences outcomes, guiding better access and care. The work will help shape independent, data-driven strategies to reduce overdose during pregnancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform safer, more effective treatment choices for pregnant people with opioid use disorder and improve access to care to reduce overdose.
How similar studies have gone: Previous real-world studies have shown variability in outcomes by geography and treatment access, but this project aims to clarify these patterns in pregnancy.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Kevin Young — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Xu, Kevin Young
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Fetal brain health markers in pregnant people exposed to opioids
A study of fetal brain health using baby’s circulating RNA carriers in the blood of pregnant people with opioid exposure to help identify which infants may need early treatment.
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Comparing safety and effectiveness of opioid-use disorder medicines for pregnant people
This project looks at how different medications for opioid use disorder work for people who are pregnant, aiming to understand which options are safer and more effective for both mom and baby.
-
Comparing treatments for opioid use disorder in pregnant women
This study is looking at how well different medications for opioid use disorder work and how safe they are for pregnant women and their babies, with the goal of finding better ways to support moms-to-be who are dealing with this issue.
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Understanding Fetal Brain Health in Pregnancies with Opioid Use
This research aims to find ways to predict which babies exposed to opioids during pregnancy might develop Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) by looking at tiny particles from the baby's brain in the mother's blood.
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Improving treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder in jails
This study is working to make sure that pregnant women in jail who are dealing with opioid use disorder get the right medication and care they need, so both they and their babies can be healthier.
-
Optimizing opioid treatment for pregnant individuals using big data
This study is looking at how to make treatment for opioid use disorder better for pregnant people, especially in Black communities, by checking how well medications like buprenorphine and methadone are prescribed and used.
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.