Investigating how psilocybin affects motivation and brain function in people with opioid use disorder
Official title: Psilocybin: Capturing brain mechanisms of motivation and neurocognition in individuals with opioid use disorder
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-10978862 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how psilocybin, a natural compound, might help people struggling with opioid use disorder by seeing how it affects their motivation and thinking, and it’s for anyone interested in new ways to manage cravings and improve their recovery.
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 | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $495,024 |
| NIH project number | 1R61DA061206-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10978862 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have opioid use disorder or those currently undergoing other forms of treatment for substance use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the effects of psilocybin, a compound that may help treat opioid use disorder (OUD), by examining its impact on brain mechanisms related to motivation and cognition. Participants will be assigned to receive either a therapeutic dose of psilocybin or a placebo, with assessments conducted before and after treatment to evaluate changes in brain activity and behavior. The study aims to understand how psilocybin influences responses to drug-related cues and the ability to inhibit cravings, potentially offering new insights into treatment for OUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatment options for individuals struggling with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using psilocybin for treating substance use disorders, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Childress, Anna Rose — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Childress, Anna Rose
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Psilocybin's Effects on Brain and Motivation in Opioid Use Disorder
This project looks at how psilocybin might help people with opioid use disorder by understanding its effects on the brain and behavior.
-
Systems analysis to improve opioid use disorder care after jail release (SAIA-MOUD)
A program to help people with opioid use disorder get better, faster, and safer care after they leave jail.
-
Precise epigenetic drugs for opioid addiction
A tiny, targeted drug approach is being developed to help people with opioid use disorder by rewriting the epigenetic signals in the brain to reduce cravings and relapse risk.
-
Increasing Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for Unhoused Montanans
This project helps unhoused people in Montana get life-saving medicines for opioid use disorder through clinics connected to syringe service programs, a nurse-led MOUD model, and peer support.
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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.
-
Scaling up medications for opioid use disorder in residential treatment programs
This grant studies how to help residential treatment programs provide medications for opioid use disorder to reduce overdoses after discharge, focusing on real-world settings and policies.
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.