Brain scans of kappa opioid receptors during early opioid abstinence
Imaging Brain Kappa Opioid Receptors in Early Abstinence Opioid Use Disorder
This work uses PET brain scans to look at kappa opioid receptors in people recently abstinent from opioids to see how receptor levels relate to return-to-use and symptoms.
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-11323494 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have a PET brain scan with a tracer called [11C]EKAP within about 5–10 days after inpatient admission to measure kappa opioid receptor availability. The research will compare about 40 people with moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder to about 30 matched healthy volunteers. After inpatient discharge, the team will track opioid use and symptoms such as mood and anhedonia to link initial scan measures to later outcomes. The study aims to map regional receptor differences and relate them to clinical patterns that matter to patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with moderate-to-severe opioid use disorder who are within roughly 5–10 days of inpatient admission for abstinence/treatment are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not recently abstinent, do not have OUD, are pregnant, or are medically unstable are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify brain markers that help predict relapse risk and point to new treatments targeting kappa opioid receptors.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary human PET work, including the team's earlier study, showed lower [11C]EKAP binding in abstinent OUD, but this imaging approach is still early-stage and not yet proven to guide treatment.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Angarita, Gustavo Adolfo — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Angarita, Gustavo Adolfo
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.