NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Digital program to help Veterans with chronic pain and opioid-use disorder stay on treatment and feel better

Official title: Improving pain and functioning using an integrative digital treatment for chronic pain and addiction in Veterans with opioid use disorder receiving buprenorphine

Funded at VA Connecticut Healthcare System · NIH-11340218 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A web-based 9-week program helps Veterans on buprenorphine manage chronic pain and cravings from home.

More Opioid Use research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVA Connecticut Healthcare System
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (West Haven, United States)
Project startOctober 1, 2026
Project endSeptember 30, 2030
Funding year2026
NIH project number1I01RD000376-01A1
Project IDNIH-11340218 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Veterans with chronic pain who are receiving buprenorphine for opioid-use disorder and have access to the internet.

Less likely to help

Veterans without chronic pain, without internet access, or not on MOUD may see little benefit.

What this research studies

This project offers a 9-week, home-based digital treatment that combines chronic pain care with support for opioid-use disorder in Veterans. Participants complete daily digital surveys and receive personalized weekly feedback aimed at improving pain, function, and MOUD retention. By reducing the burden of in-person visits, it seeks to lower barriers like stigma and travel time while leveraging existing MOUD care. The program is designed to be used alongside buprenorphine treatment to help people stay engaged and improve overall quality of life.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, Veterans may experience less pain, better daily functioning, and greater retention in buprenorphine treatment.

How similar studies have gone: The concept builds on prior tests of digital pain and addiction treatments, with integration into MOUD being a novel combination in this population.

Where this research is happening

  • VA Connecticut Healthcare System
    West Haven, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Maclean, Robert Ross — VA Connecticut Healthcare System
  • Study coordinator: Maclean, Robert Ross

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.