Improving treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder

Project STEPuP: A prenatal provider education and training program to improve medication-assisted treatment use during pregnancy and maternal and child health outcomes

NIH-funded research Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation · NIH-10837724

This study is all about helping doctors and healthcare providers learn how to better support pregnant women who are dealing with opioid use disorder, so they can safely use medication-assisted treatment and have healthier pregnancies and babies.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMagee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10837724 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the education and training of prenatal healthcare providers to improve the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for pregnant women suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD). The project, known as Project STEPuP, aims to identify and address barriers to accessing MAT, particularly in low-resource settings. By engaging healthcare stakeholders, the program seeks to implement a women-centered approach that promotes evidence-based practices for treating OUD during pregnancy. The initiative includes training components designed to empower providers to better support their patients and improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women who are struggling with opioid use disorder and are seeking treatment options.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or those who do not have opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to increased access to effective treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder, ultimately improving health outcomes for both mothers and their children.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that education and training programs for healthcare providers can effectively improve treatment outcomes for patients with substance use disorders, indicating a promising approach for this initiative.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.