Making it easier for people with opioid addiction to get medication where they live
Localize Opioid Use Disorder (LOUD) response to increase medication access
['FUNDING_R37'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11196073
This project will build tools to pinpoint local barriers so people with opioid use disorder can better get medications like buprenorphine.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11196073 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will create a Small Area Multidimensional MOUD Access (SAMMA) suite that combines data on clinic locations, insurance coverage, transportation, and patient demographics. They will validate these measures and build dashboards so health teams can spot neighborhoods where people with opioid use disorder face barriers to medication. The team will use existing health records, community surveys, and area-level data to tailor and monitor services over time. The goal is to guide targeted local responses to improve each step of the opioid treatment cascade.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with opioid use disorder living in U.S. communities with limited access to MOUD, or those willing to complete surveys or share healthcare data, would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: People without opioid use disorder or those living outside the U.S. or in areas not covered by the project are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tools could help communities direct resources where people are most likely to miss out on lifesaving OUD medications.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mapping efforts using simple measures like drive time revealed access gaps but often missed social and insurance barriers, so this multidimensional approach is newer and still being validated.
Where this research is happening
PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JOUDREY, PAUL J — UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- Study coordinator: JOUDREY, PAUL J
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 below.
Conditions: Centers for Disease Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)