Comparing safety and effectiveness of opioid-use disorder medicines for pregnant people
Official title: The Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Pharmacotherapies for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11358414 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $751,816 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA049822-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11358414 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are receiving or considering medications for MOUD.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant individuals without opioid use disorder or those not considering MOUD may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This grant studies pregnant patients with opioid use disorder to compare different MOUD options and their outcomes for mothers and newborns. It builds on prior findings that buprenorphine may be linked to certain better neonatal outcomes but notes challenges with staying in treatment after delivery. The study will examine co-exposures to other psychotropic medicines and non-opioid substance use, and how these affect treatment safety and effectiveness. Results could guide clinicians on choosing MOUD strategies that improve retention and reduce adverse neonatal events.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinicians tailor MOUD choices for pregnant people to improve maternal health and birth outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest differing neonatal outcomes between buprenorphine and methadone, with ongoing questions about postpartum retention and safety.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huybrechts, Krista F — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Huybrechts, Krista F
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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.