Improving pain management for veterans with severe kidney disease
Official title: Optimizing Pain Management in End-Stage Renal Disease Among Veterans (OPERA-Vets):Balancing Benefits and Harms of Opioids
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-10923830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how new rules about prescribing opioids impact veterans with severe kidney disease who are dealing with pain, and it aims to find safer ways to help them manage their pain without increasing risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003282-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10923830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans diagnosed with end-stage renal disease who experience chronic pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have end-stage renal disease or those who are not veterans may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how recent opioid prescribing policies affect veterans suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It focuses on balancing the benefits and risks of opioid use, particularly for veterans who experience significant pain but are at high risk for opioid-related complications. The study aims to understand the implications of these policies on pain management and explores alternative pain relief strategies that may be more suitable for this vulnerable population. By analyzing data from veterans receiving dialysis, the research seeks to identify effective approaches to optimize pain control while minimizing risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management strategies for veterans with end-stage renal disease, enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing opioid safety in chronic pain populations can lead to better pain management outcomes, suggesting that this approach may also be effective for veterans with ESRD.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wachterman, Melissa — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Wachterman, Melissa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pain care for veterans with end-stage kidney disease
This project looks at how changes in VA opioid policies have affected pain control and safety for veterans with end-stage kidney disease.
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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.