Block a nerve to help with opioid use disorder when on buprenorphine
Official title: Induction and Maintenance on Buprenorphine in Opioid Use Disorder: Investigation of a peripheral nerve block for autonomic dysfunction
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-11353623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new study will test whether injecting a local anesthetic near a facial nerve (SPG block) as an add-on to buprenorphine treatment can reduce withdrawal symptoms and improve treatment acceptance for people with opioid use disorder who use fentanyl.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $450,175 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA066044-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder who test positive for high-potency synthetic opioids and are starting or on buprenorphine maintenance.
✕Less likely to help
People not willing to undergo a nerve block procedure or those not on buprenorphine maintenance may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have opioid use disorder and are using buprenorphine, this study will randomly assign you to receive either an active SPG nerve block or a sham procedure once a week for 8 weeks, starting around buprenorphine induction. All participants continue standard buprenorphine maintenance, and researchers will track weekly withdrawal symptoms and how willing people are to continue the SPG procedure. The SPG block is a familiar, low-tech intervention using a local anesthetic with minimal equipment. The goal is to estimate the potential effect size to plan future studies, with careful attention to safety and tolerability. It is a small, early-phase trial designed to inform later, larger trials in this area.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could become a helpful adjunct to buprenorphine maintenance, potentially easing withdrawal symptoms and improving adherence.
How similar studies have gone: SPG blocks have been used for other conditions and are being explored for addiction care, but this specific use is experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mariani, John J — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Mariani, John J
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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.