Understanding how opioid exposure affects children's brain function
Official title: Executive function in opioid-exposed offspring and subsequent molecular signatures
Funded at Northern Kentucky University · NIH-10983752 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using opioids during pregnancy might affect kids' thinking skills, like paying attention and controlling impulses, and it’s for parents who want to understand the potential impacts on their children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Kentucky University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Highland Heights, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00DA049908-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10983752 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children who were born to mothers with a history of opioid use, particularly those who may exhibit cognitive deficits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who were not exposed to opioids during pregnancy or do not exhibit cognitive challenges related to executive function may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal opioid use on the cognitive abilities of children, particularly focusing on executive function, which includes skills like attention and impulse control. By using both rodent models and human samples, the study aims to identify the biological mechanisms that lead to cognitive deficits in children born to mothers who used opioids during pregnancy. The research will also employ bioinformatics to uncover molecular signatures associated with these cognitive challenges, ultimately aiming to develop effective treatment strategies for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions for children affected by maternal opioid exposure, enhancing their cognitive development and overall quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically addressing executive function deficits in children exposed to opioids, the approach of using animal models to understand cognitive impacts has shown promise in other areas of developmental neuroscience.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Brittany L — Northern Kentucky University
- Study coordinator: Smith, Brittany L
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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.