Understanding how the brain’s orexin system links sleep, mood, and opioid use disorder
Official title: Neurofunctional phenotyping to investigate the role of the orexin system at the intersection of opioid use disorder and insomnia
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11362669 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists will study how the orexin system in the brain relates to insomnia and relapse risk in adults with opioid use disorder who are on buprenorphine treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $753,508 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059483-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362669 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with opioid use disorder who are actively followed and on buprenorphine treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the study age range, not on buprenorphine, or without active follow-up may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project uses the NIDA Phenotyping Battery to identify a sleep-related and neurofunctional profile in adults with opioid use disorder. The study will examine how orexin signaling in the brain may influence sleep, reward, stress, and recovery while people receive buprenorphine. By exploring brain-function patterns and their relation to sleep problems, researchers aim to uncover mechanisms that could improve relapse prevention. The work combines human assessments with mechanistic questions about orexin’s role in OUD, potentially guiding new adjunctive treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal targets to improve sleep and reduce relapse risk for people with OUD on buprenorphine.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in animals and humans suggest orexin is involved in sleep and opioid-related behaviors, supporting potential translational impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martin, Caitlin Eileen — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Martin, Caitlin Eileen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How sleep and the brain's orexin system affect recovery while on buprenorphine
This project tests whether targeting the brain's orexin system can improve sleep and lower relapse risk for people taking buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
-
Sleep therapy tailored for adults in opioid treatment
A tailored cognitive-behavioral sleep program aims to help adults with opioid use disorder and insomnia sleep better and stay in medication treatment.
-
Suvorexant to improve sleep in people receiving treatment for opioid use disorder
People on medications for opioid use disorder who have insomnia will be given suvorexant or a placebo to see if it helps their sleep, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms.
-
Connecting Sleep and Opioid Use Disorder through Brain Chemistry
This project looks at how a brain system called orexin connects sleep problems and opioid use disorder, hoping to find new ways to help people.
-
Testing a medication to improve sleep in people with opioid use disorder
This study is looking at whether the sleep medication suvorexant can help people with opioid use disorder who are in long-term treatment by improving their sleep and possibly easing cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
-
Improving sleep treatment for people with opioid use disorder
This study is looking at a special type of therapy to help adults with opioid use disorder who also have trouble sleeping, aiming to make sure the treatment works well for everyone and supports their recovery.
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.