Understanding Psilocybin's Effects on Brain and Motivation in Opioid Use Disorder
Official title: Psilocybin: Capturing brain mechanisms of motivation and neurocognition in individuals with opioid use disorder
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11127767 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how psilocybin might help people with opioid use disorder by understanding its effects on the brain and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $472,087 |
| NIH project number | 5R61DA061206-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11127767 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are interested in participating in a controlled setting to receive psilocybin or a control substance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not seeking to explore novel pharmacological interventions or those with contraindications to psilocybin may not receive direct benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
The opioid crisis is a serious concern, and researchers are looking into new approaches like psilocybin, which has shown promise for other substance use disorders. This project aims to understand how psilocybin affects the brain's motivation and thinking processes in individuals with opioid use disorder. Participants will receive either a dose of psilocybin or a control dose, and researchers will observe their brain activity, thinking skills, and behaviors before and after. The goal is to see if psilocybin can reduce the brain's response to drug cues and improve self-control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatment strategies for opioid use disorder by revealing how psilocybin impacts brain functions related to addiction.
How similar studies have gone: While psilocybin has shown potential benefits in other substance use disorders like alcohol and nicotine addiction, its specific mechanisms in opioid use disorder are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Childress, Anna Rose — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Childress, Anna Rose
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.