Opioid use and cancer risk across populations
Official title: The Opioid Cohort Consortium (OPICO) to investigate the effects of using opioids on cancer risk
Funded at International Agency for Res on Cancer · NIH-11530257 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant checks whether using prescription opioids is linked to cancer risk by pooling data from lots of studies and health records across several countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | International Agency for Res on Cancer NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lyon, France) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $35,845 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA289226-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11530257 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with a history of prescription opioid use and available health records who are willing to contribute to long-term follow-up through existing cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People without opioid exposure or with limited access to health data may see minimal direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project combines data from prospective cohorts, medication dispensing records, and health databases in the US, Europe, and Australia to study cancer risk associated with opioids. Researchers will harmonize these diverse data sources to create one large, high-quality resource. People who have used prescription opioids and are interested in cancer prevention may be impacted by the findings and future research opportunities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could clarify whether opioid use influences cancer risk and guide safer prescribing and monitoring.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have produced mixed results; this project aims to provide more robust evidence by harmonizing data across many sources.
Where this research is happening
-
International Agency for Res on Cancer
Lyon, France Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sheikh, Mahdi — International Agency for Res on Cancer
- Study coordinator: Sheikh, Mahdi
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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.