Investigating how sleep and circadian rhythms affect treatment outcomes for opioid use disorder
Official title: Sleep and circadian rhythm phenotypes and mechanisms associated with opioid use disorder treatment outcomes
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10931450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how sleep and body clock patterns affect the success of treatments for people recovering from opioid use disorder, and it’s for anyone receiving buprenorphine or methadone to help them on their journey to recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,163,257 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059473-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals currently receiving treatment for opioid use disorder with buprenorphine or methadone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between sleep patterns, circadian rhythms, and the effectiveness of treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). By enrolling participants undergoing buprenorphine or methadone treatment, the study will track their sleep quality and patterns over six months. The goal is to identify how disturbances in sleep and circadian rhythms may influence the likelihood of relapse to opioid use. This observational study aims to uncover potential pathways that could lead to improved treatment strategies for individuals struggling with OUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to enhanced treatment approaches that improve recovery outcomes for patients with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that addressing sleep disturbances can positively impact treatment outcomes for substance use disorders, suggesting a promising avenue for this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huhn, Andrew S — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Huhn, Andrew S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Sleep and circadian factors linked to opioid treatment outcomes
A long-term study at Johns Hopkins will follow people on buprenorphine or methadone to see how sleep quality and daily rhythms relate to ongoing opioid use.
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Sleep and body‑clock patterns during opioid treatment
This project follows people on buprenorphine or methadone to see how sleep and daily body‑clock patterns relate to returning to opioid use.
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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.
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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.
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.