Effects of prescription opioid use during pregnancy on a mother's brain after birth
Official title: Postpartum Neurobiological Sequelae of Prescription Opioid Use During Pregnancy
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11457183 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how taking prescription opioids during pregnancy changes a mother's brain and behavior after her baby is born.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DA060209-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457183 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who used prescription opioids during pregnancy and are in the postpartum period would be the most relevant group to follow or participate in related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People who did not use opioids during pregnancy or whose symptoms come from other medical or social causes may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how prescription opioid use in pregnancy changes brain circuits that regulate bonding and reward after childbirth. They focus on oxytocin-producing neurons in the hypothalamus and dopamine pathways to the ventral tegmental area, which together influence caring, motivation, and drug reward. Using laboratory models and detailed neurobiological tests, the team will examine whether opioid exposure during pregnancy causes tolerance at mu-opioid receptors and long-term changes in these circuits that could raise postpartum vulnerability to drug seeking or mood problems. The work aims to connect these biological findings to postpartum mental health and overdose risk to guide future prevention or treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, the findings could point to new ways to prevent or treat postpartum opioid-related mood problems and reduce overdose risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown opioids affect oxytocin and dopamine systems, but few have examined lasting postpartum effects on mothers, so this approach is relatively novel though grounded in established neuroscience.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lujan Perez, Miguel Angel — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lujan Perez, Miguel Angel
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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.