Improving support for pregnant women with opioid use disorder through a chatbot
Official title: Adapting the Penny Chatbot for Perinatal OUD Patients: COPILOT
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11099681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly chatbot named Penny to help pregnant and new moms who are dealing with opioid use disorder by providing support and information through text messages, making it easier for them to feel connected and get the care they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $243,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R34DA058461-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant or postpartum women who are experiencing opioid use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or postpartum, or those who do not have opioid use disorder, may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to adapt an existing chatbot, Penny, to better support pregnant and postpartum women dealing with opioid use disorder (OUD). The chatbot will use natural language processing to engage users in two-way text messaging, providing a friendly and supportive interaction that can help reduce feelings of loneliness and improve access to care. By addressing both emotional and practical needs, the chatbot seeks to enhance engagement in treatment and support services for these women. The project will evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of this approach in improving health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and accessible support system for pregnant women with opioid use disorder, potentially improving their health outcomes and reducing adverse birth effects.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using chatbots for health support, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kornfield, Sara L. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kornfield, Sara L.
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.