Monthly injectable buprenorphine for people with opioid use disorder in Massachusetts
Official title: Extended-release Opioid Use Disorder treatment in Massachusetts (EXOUD-Mass)
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11389746 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers monthly injectable buprenorphine to people in Massachusetts with opioid use disorder to help them stay on medication and lower overdose risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $652,766 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA064359-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389746 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in Massachusetts with a diagnosis of opioid use disorder who are eligible for buprenorphine treatment, especially those who have trouble taking daily medication, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot take buprenorphine for medical reasons, are already well controlled on methadone or stable oral buprenorphine, or cannot access participating clinics may not gain additional benefit.
What this research studies
You would get clinician‑administered monthly injections of extended‑release buprenorphine in one of the available doses and be followed over time to track whether you stay on medication, use other opioids, and avoid overdoses. The team will compare outcomes to people using daily buprenorphine to see if the injections improve adherence and retention. Researchers will collect medical records and patient-reported information across participating clinics in Massachusetts. The focus is on real-world care during the fentanyl era to learn who benefits most from the monthly option.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more people stay on medication, reduce opioid use, and prevent overdoses.
How similar studies have gone: FDA trials found extended‑release buprenorphine worked as well as daily buprenorphine in stable patients and early studies show high retention, but broad real-world data in the fentanyl era are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stopka, Thomas J — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Stopka, Thomas J
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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.