How opioid medications affect sleep and circadian rhythms
Official title: Medications for opioid use disorder differentially modulate intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell function, sleep, and circadian rhythms: implications for treatment
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-10932225 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how medications for opioid use disorder might affect your sleep and body clock, focusing on special cells in your eyes that help control when you sleep and wake up, to find clues that could help predict recovery and prevent relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,098,863 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059471-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932225 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder who experience sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have opioid use disorder or those who do not experience sleep issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how medications used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) influence sleep patterns and circadian rhythms. It focuses on the role of specific retinal cells that are involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles and how these cells may be affected by opioid medications. By examining the relationship between opioid treatment and sleep disruption, the study aims to identify biomarkers that could help predict recovery and relapse in patients. The approach combines clinical assessments with advanced electrophysiological techniques to understand these interactions better.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with opioid use disorder by addressing sleep-related issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the relationship between opioid medications and sleep can lead to better management strategies, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cropsey, Karen L — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Cropsey, Karen L
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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.