Fentanyl Overdose, Anhedonia, and Relapse Risk in Opioid Use Disorder
Official title: Fentanyl Overdose, Anhedonia and Relapse Risk
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11403998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant aims to understand how a fentanyl overdose might cause anhedonia and raise the risk of relapse for people with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $232,225 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA061557-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with opioid use disorder who have experienced a fentanyl overdose and are seeking recovery support.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a history of opioid use disorder or fentanyl overdose may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Researchers at Tufts University Boston are studying whether a fentanyl overdose can create lasting changes in motivation and pleasure, which may contribute to returning to opioid use. The project uses a rat model to explore how overdose affects reward processing and whether this in turn increases relapse risk. Findings could point to new ways to support people recovering from opioid use disorder after a overdose event.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better strategies to prevent relapse and improve recovery for people who have survived fentanyl overdoses.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary animal studies have shown that fentanyl overdose can affect reward-related behavior, suggesting this approach is promising but still early.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Byrnes, Elizabeth M — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Byrnes, Elizabeth M
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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.