Using perinatal care to 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-10854925 · 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 and hepatitis C, making it easier for them to stay in treatment and get the help they need.
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) | $175,694 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DA052821-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10854925 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are 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 have no 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, which may motivate women to seek help for these conditions. The study aims to develop a decision model specific to perinatal care that can enhance retention in OUD treatment and increase awareness and treatment of HCV. By leveraging the longitudinal access provided by perinatal care, the research seeks to address the needs of women who inject drugs, a key population affected by the opioid crisis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the rates of opioid overdoses and hepatitis C infections among women of reproductive age.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown that integrating substance use treatment into perinatal care can improve outcomes, suggesting this approach may be effective.
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.