Telehealth support for opioid use disorder in vulnerable settings
Official title: Right Tools, Right Time, Right Place: Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder in Vulnerable Settings
Funded at Boulder Care, INC. · NIH-11401058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A telehealth program is being tested to help people with opioid use disorder get buprenorphine treatment in settings where care is hard to reach, like jails, EDs, rural areas, and other vulnerable places.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boulder Care, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $826,352 |
| NIH project number | 4R44DA061386-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder who are in or near settings with limited access to traditional OUD care (e.g., emergency departments, jails/prisons, rural areas, and residential treatment programs).
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without opioid use disorder or those in settings where telehealth-delivered buprenorphine is not feasible may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use low-cost, field-deployable telehealth tools to connect patients with opioid use disorder to buprenorphine treatment in settings where access is limited. It focuses on removing barriers by enabling clinicians to prescribe and manage care remotely, even without in-person visits. The study will evaluate how well this approach works in real-world, high-risk environments and what improvements are needed to sustain care. Patients and staff in these settings will be involved to understand practical challenges and potential benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could expand access to buprenorphine care for people with OUD in settings where treatment is currently hard to obtain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies showed telehealth can deliver effective buprenorphine treatment, suggesting this approach may be successful in vulnerable settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Boulder Care, INC.
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Papes, Stephanie — Boulder Care, INC.
- Study coordinator: Papes, Stephanie
Related research
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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.