Brain connections that help people stay off opioids
Functional connectivity mechanisms of opioid abstinence
This project looks at brain network patterns in people in their first six months of methadone or buprenorphine treatment to find which patterns link with staying on medication and avoiding illicit opioid use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324614 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be one of about 240 people starting methadone or buprenorphine who will complete brain imaging and regular check-ins during the first six months of treatment. The team will use network-based brain analyses to find patterns of connectivity tied to medication adherence and episodes of illicit opioid use. This builds on earlier findings of an 'opioid abstinence network' connecting frontoparietal, salience, sensorimotor, and default mode regions. The goal is to identify biological markers that could inform future approaches to prevent relapse and improve retention in treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults within their first six months of methadone or buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People not receiving MOUD, those beyond early treatment, or anyone unable to undergo MRI (for example due to certain medical implants or severe claustrophobia) may not be eligible or directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could produce brain-based markers to identify people at higher relapse risk and help tailor interventions that keep people on medication and reduce overdose risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior smaller studies, including the team's own work, have identified brain connections linked to relapse, and this larger, diverse sample aims to confirm and refine those findings.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yip, Sarah — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Yip, Sarah
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.