Improving how buprenorphine is started for people using fentanyl
Official title: Building and Implementing Best Practices for Buprenorphine Initiation in the Setting of Fentanyl Use
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10907025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making it easier for people with opioid use disorder, especially those using fentanyl, to start treatment with buprenorphine, and it will help find out what challenges patients and doctors face so they can create helpful tools for better care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $182,306 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DA058751-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with opioid use disorder who are currently using fentanyl and are seeking treatment with buprenorphine.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not using opioids or those who are already receiving effective treatment for opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the initiation of buprenorphine treatment for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD), particularly those using fentanyl. It aims to understand the challenges faced by both patients and healthcare providers during this process. By employing qualitative methods and expert consensus, the project will develop a toolkit to facilitate better treatment initiation. The effectiveness of this toolkit will then be tested in real-world settings to improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment initiation for opioid use disorder, ultimately reducing overdose deaths and improving patient health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that improving treatment initiation strategies can significantly enhance patient engagement and outcomes in opioid use disorder, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhatraju, Elenore — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Bhatraju, Elenore
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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.