Ethno-epidemiological look at how Vancouver’s overdose Response works
Official title: An ethno-epidemiological study of the implementation and effectiveness of an innovative and comprehensive response to the evolving overdose epidemic
Funded at University of British Columbia · NIH-11402718 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Canadian research team studies how evolving drug use and supply changes affect overdose risk and how well current prevention and treatment efforts work for people who use fentanyl and stimulants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of British Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Vancouver, Canada) |
| Project start | July 1, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $564,980 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA044181-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402718 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who use opioids (including fentanyl) and/or stimulants, especially those who have experience with opioid agonist treatment in Vancouver or similar settings.
✕Less likely to help
People not directly affected by overdose risks or those not engaged with current prevention or treatment services may be less impacted by study findings.
What this research studies
This project in Vancouver uses real-world data and community insights to understand how shifting drug supply and use patterns influence overdose risk and the success of prevention and treatment strategies. Researchers will link contextual factors with overdose outcomes and examine how opioid agonist treatment performs for people exposed to fentanyl, stimulants, and novel substances. The aim is to generate practical knowledge that can improve overdose responses and treatment options for PWUD in North America. The study emphasizes collaboration with local communities to ensure findings translate into actionable improvements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more effective overdose prevention and treatment strategies tailored to evolving drug use patterns.
How similar studies have gone: Prior overdose prevention research in similar urban settings has shown that contextualized interventions can reduce harm and deaths, though the exact dynamics with fentanyl and NPS are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kerr, Thomas — University of British Columbia
- Study coordinator: Kerr, Thomas
Related research
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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.