Using perinatal care to help reduce opioid overdoses and hepatitis C infections
Official title: Perinatal care as a venue to reduce opioid overdoses and hepatitis C virus incidence (PreVenT OD HCV)
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11078478 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how caring for women during pregnancy can help them get better treatment for opioid use disorder and hepatitis C, making it easier for them to stay engaged in their health care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $53,997 |
| NIH project number | 3K01DA052821-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078478 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women or women who have recently given birth and are struggling with opioid use disorder or are at risk for hepatitis C.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or who do not have a history of opioid use disorder or hepatitis C may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how perinatal care can be utilized to improve treatment for women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and to identify and treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. It focuses on the critical period of pregnancy, where women may be more motivated to seek help for these conditions. The study aims to develop a decision model specific to perinatal care that can enhance engagement in treatment and improve health outcomes for women who inject drugs. By leveraging the longitudinal access provided by perinatal care, the research seeks to address the gaps in treatment retention and awareness of HCV infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment outcomes for women with opioid use disorder and reduced incidence of hepatitis C infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown that integrating treatment for substance use disorders into perinatal care can be effective, suggesting that this approach may yield positive results.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Epstein, Rachel Lee — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Epstein, Rachel Lee
Related research
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Real-world patient and clinician preferences to improve prenatal care for women with OUD and HCV
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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.