Sleep and circadian factors linked to opioid treatment outcomes
Official title: Sleep and circadian rhythm phenotypes and mechanisms associated with opioid use disorder treatment outcomes
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11394555 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,148,520 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059473-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394555 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults with opioid use disorder currently in buprenorphine or methadone treatment.
✕Less likely to help
People not in MOUD treatment or who cannot consent may not benefit.
What this research studies
This study follows 130 adults in opioid use disorder treatment over six months to explore how sleep duration, sleep patterns, and circadian rhythms relate to illicit opioid use. Researchers will collect sleep data and circadian proxies while participants stay on their MOUD, aiming to uncover pathways like mood that may connect sleep and relapse. The project builds on existing clinical partnerships to translate sleep science into strategies that could improve treatment success. Results could guide future interventions to stabilize sleep and circadian health during recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify Sleep and circadian targets to improve MOUD outcomes and reduce relapse risk.
How similar studies have gone: Similar work in sleep and addiction suggests plausible links, but longitudinal human data in this exact setting are limited.
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 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.
-
Investigating how sleep and circadian rhythms affect treatment outcomes for opioid use disorder
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.
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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.
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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.