Connecting Sleep and Opioid Use Disorder through Brain Chemistry
Official title: Neurofunctional phenotyping to investigate the role of the orexin system at the intersection of opioid use disorder and insomnia
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11195636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a brain system called orexin connects sleep problems and opioid use disorder, hoping to find new ways to help people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $762,021 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059483-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults aged 21 and older who are living with opioid use disorder and also experience insomnia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not currently living with opioid use disorder or insomnia may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people with opioid use disorder (OUD) also experience insomnia, which can make OUD treatment less effective and increase the risk of overdose. This project explores how a specific brain system, called the orexin system, might link sleep issues with the brain's reward and stress responses in individuals with OUD. By using advanced brain imaging and other tools, we aim to identify the exact ways the orexin system influences these conditions. Our goal is to uncover new biological targets that could lead to more effective treatments for both OUD and related sleep problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medications or therapies that target the orexin system, helping individuals with opioid use disorder manage insomnia and reduce their risk of relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in animal models have shown that targeting the orexin system can reduce opioid-seeking behaviors, suggesting a promising direction for this human-focused work.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martin, Caitlin Eileen — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Martin, Caitlin Eileen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How sleep and the brain's orexin system affect recovery while on buprenorphine
This project tests whether targeting the brain's orexin system can improve sleep and lower relapse risk for people taking buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
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Understanding how the brain’s orexin system links sleep, mood, and opioid use disorder
Scientists will study how the orexin system in the brain relates to insomnia and relapse risk in adults with opioid use disorder who are on buprenorphine treatment.
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Sleep therapy tailored for adults in opioid treatment
A tailored cognitive-behavioral sleep program aims to help adults with opioid use disorder and insomnia sleep better and stay in medication treatment.
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Suvorexant to improve sleep in people receiving treatment for opioid use disorder
People on medications for opioid use disorder who have insomnia will be given suvorexant or a placebo to see if it helps their sleep, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms.
-
Testing a medication to improve sleep in people with opioid use disorder
This study is looking at whether the sleep medication suvorexant can help people with opioid use disorder who are in long-term treatment by improving their sleep and possibly easing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
-
Improving sleep treatment for people with opioid use disorder
This study is looking at a special type of therapy to help adults with opioid use disorder who also have trouble sleeping, aiming to make sure the treatment works well for everyone and supports their recovery.
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.