Investigating how childhood experiences affect the risk of opioid use disorder.
Official title: A mechanistic investigation of risk factors for opioid use disorder: Examining hippocampal-based context-dependent learning and memory associated with adverse childhood experiences
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-10928724 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tough experiences in childhood might affect the way adults process situations and could lead to problems with opioid use after being prescribed painkillers, and it’s for adults who are currently getting treatment for opioid addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $660,127 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA056415-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928724 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with a history of opioid use disorder who have experienced adverse childhood experiences.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of opioid use disorder or adverse childhood experiences may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the development of opioid use disorder (OUD) in adults. It focuses on how deficits in hippocampal-based context processing, which is influenced by ACEs, may contribute to the risk of developing OUD after prescribed opioid use. By examining 75 adults with OUD who are undergoing treatment with buprenorphine, the study aims to identify neuro-cognitive mechanisms that link childhood trauma to opioid addiction. The findings could help in understanding the complexities of OUD and inform better treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies for opioid use disorder, particularly for those with a history of adverse childhood experiences.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the neuro-cognitive mechanisms related to trauma can provide insights into substance use disorders, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duval, Elizabeth — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Duval, Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how early life experiences and brain learning shape opioid risk
A research team at the University of Michigan is studying how childhood adversity and brain learning related to memory might influence the risk of developing opioid use disorder in adults who are already using prescribed opioids.
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Understanding how childhood experiences affect opioid use disorder
This project explores how difficult childhood experiences might influence the brain's learning and memory, making some adults more likely to develop opioid use disorder.
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Increasing Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for Unhoused Montanans
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Optimizing long-acting PrEP and opioid treatment for people in jails and prisons
This project tests a real-world approach to using long-acting PrEP and buprenorphine for HIV prevention and opioid treatment among incarcerated individuals and after release.
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.