Understanding Opioid Effects on the Brain and Spinal Cord
Neurobiological Consequences of Long-Term Opioid Therapy in the Brain and Spinal Cord
This project looks at how long-term opioid use changes the brain and spinal cord in people who take these medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11113806 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
For patients who use opioids long-term, this project aims to understand how these medications affect their brain and spinal cord. Researchers are using advanced imaging techniques, like functional MRI, to see how the brain responds to rewards and how different parts of the spinal cord communicate. The goal is to identify specific changes in the nervous system that happen with long-term opioid use. This information could help develop better ways to support patients in reducing or stopping opioid therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be patients currently undergoing long-term opioid therapy.
Not a fit: Patients who have never used opioids or are not on long-term opioid therapy would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for helping patients manage long-term opioid use and reverse its effects on the nervous system.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data from prior research has already shown altered brain responses and disrupted spinal cord connectivity in patients on long-term opioid therapy, suggesting a promising foundation for this work.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martucci, Katherine Theresa — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Martucci, Katherine Theresa
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 below.