What’s New in the CTN?
Updates from the NIDA National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network. Want to share some news about your protocol, node, publications or presentations, or other CTN-related work here and/or in the CTN Bulletin? Email us at ctnlib@uw.edu!
Update on CTN-0082
The CTN-0082 primary outcomes article was recently featured in the NIDA HIV Research Program email newsletter: What predicts willingness to take PrEP among people who use opioids? A cross-sectional survey developed by NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network was given to 308 HIV-negative people who use opioids (PWUO) across eight Southern cities with high HIV incidence. Half had heard of PrEP, but only 4% had ever taken it. Investigators found that willingness to take daily oral PrEP and willingness to take long-acting injectable (LAI) PrEP were moderately high (69.16% and 62.02%, respectively). Educational attainment and…
Update on CTN-0097: Primary Outcomes Article Published!
The primary outcomes article for CTN-0097, Surmounting Withdrawal to Initiate Fast Treatment with Naltrexone (SWIFT): Improving the Real-World Effectiveness of Injection Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder (NIH HEAL Initiative), is now available! Published in JAMA Network Open, the findings from the study suggest that starting people with opioid use disorder (OUD) on extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) within 5-7 days of seeking treatment is more effective than the standard treatment method of starting within 10-15 days, but requires closer medical supervision. This rapid treatment protocol could make XR-naltrexone more viable as…
Update on CTN-0100 (RDD)
During March, the CTN-0100 Project Team initiated a month-long BINGO challenge with the goal of boosting QA and participant tracking and retention across the 18 study sites. BINGO tasks encompassed completing all scheduled visits for the week, locating a missing participant, performing internal QA, addressing data queries, and conducting street/community outreach for an MIA participant. The Bellevue site of the New York Node (pictured) achieved “BINGO” first, just 18 days into the challenge! By the end of the month, 9 additional sites also achieved “BINGO.” We express our gratitude to…
Bringing the Latest Evidence-based Substance Use Disorder Treatments into Clinical Practice
The National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network Dissemination Initiative (NIDA CTN DI) promotes the adoption of evidence-based practices and research on substance use disorders into clinical practice. For one recent project, NIDA CTN DI staff partnered with nationally known subject-matter experts in opioid use disorder (OUD) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a four-part podcast series available for continuing medical education (CME) credit. The series, called Buprenorphine Initiation in the Emergency Department: Why, When, and How? takes hospital leaders and emergency department teams…
New in the Library (Apr – May 2024)
ATTENTION! The new CTN Directory is here! Published in April 2024, it has updated contact information for members of all 16 nodes, the Clinical Coordinating Center, and the Data and Statistics Center. You can find a link to it right on the CTN Dissemination Library’s home page as well as RIGHT HERE. Here are the latest items added to the CTN Dissemination Library for April – May 2024 (this post will be updated as new items come in): Rapid Initiation of Injection Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster…
NIDA Celebrates 50 Years – Comments from NIDA Director Nora Volkow, MD
NIDA Director Nora Volkow, MD, has a new commentary piece out in the American Journal of Psychiatry: Drugs and Addiction Science: NIDA Celebrates 50 Years of Research and Looks to the Future (published online May 6, 2024, doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230880) From the piece: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)—first established in 1974 as part of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration and in 1992 becoming part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—is the largest funder of research on drug use and addiction in the world. Over its 50-year…
News from the Southern Consortium Node
On April 29, 2024, the Southern Consortium Node granted the inaugural Outstanding Public Leadership Award to Sara Goldsby, Director of the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services. (Pictured: Drs. Kelly Barth, Kathleen Brady, Connie Guille with Ms. Sara Goldsby.) The award was established to recognize state and local government officials who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of policy and practice in the field of addiction. Ms. Goldsby has been a tireless advocate for South Carolinians struggling with addiction, leading the state’s response to the…
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI) Symposium 2024 (May 15, Free, @ Stanford and Online)
Machine learning and artificial intelligence are redefining the boundaries of medicine, unleashing potential like never before to ensure better health for all. Sponsored by the Stanford University Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imagining (AIMI), the FREE AIMI Symposium serves as their flagship annual meeting, focusing on the pioneering developments and significant strides in AI that are shaping the future of healthcare. They will highlight cutting-edge research and methods, showcase current and emerging real-world clinical applications, and address critical issues related to fairness and societal impact. This symposium serves…
AHSR 2024: Abstract Submission Deadline Extended to May 10!
AHSR is still accepting individual presentation and symposium abstracts for innovative and impactful research that moves the field of addiction forward. Abstracts must be submitted by the person who intends to present the study in the case of an individual presentation, and by the chair/moderator in the case of a symposium session. We anticipate that accepted abstracts will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The deadline for all submissions is Friday, May 10, 2024, at 11:59 PM PT. The AHSR Early Career Investigator Award recognizes scholars with early achievements and exceptional promise for future contributions to addiction…
New in the Library (Mar – Apr 2024)
ATTENTION! The new CTN Directory is here! Published in April 2024, it has updated contact information for members of all 16 nodes, the Clinical Coordinating Center, and the Data and Statistics Center. You can find a link to it right on the CTN Dissemination Library’s home page as well as RIGHT HERE. Here are the latest items added to the CTN Dissemination Library for March – April 2024 (this post will be updated as new items come in): Exemplar Hospital Initiation Trial to Enhance Treatment Engagement (EXHIT ENTRE): Protocol for…
News from the Ohio Valley Node
IMPROVE Studies in Progress! In October 2023 the NIH IMPROVE initiative approved funds to conduct four projects under the overall leadership of Dr. John Winhusen, current Lead Investigator of the CTN 0080 MOMs study. CTN investigators are preparing to conduct three research studies and one dissemination activity, described below: CTN 0150: Personally-Tailored Opioid-overdose and Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) Education (TOME; LI – Winhusen, OVN): This study is an intent-to-treat, open-label, randomized controlled trial planning to (1) evaluate the ability of TOME to increase MOUD and opioid-overdose knowledge in…
News from the CCC
We are pleased to share that Robrina Walker, PhD, who joined Emmes in May 2021 as a Project Leader, now serves as the Co-PI of the CCC, alongside CCC PI Eve Jelstrom. In addition to helping support and manage the CCC program/portfolio as a whole, Robrina’s direct study work includes being a Project Leader (the individual accountable for the CCC or DSC team’s support of a study) for CTN-0100 RDD (for both CCC & DSC), CTN-0121 Hi-SIRI (CCC & DSC), CTN-0102XR (CCC), and CTN-0144 (CCC). Robrina brings to Emmes nearly…
News from the Appalachian Node
Members of the Appalachian Node co-authored a manuscript with other CTN members that was published in the journal of Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. The title of the paper is “Characterization of Peer Support Services for Substance Use Disorders in 11 US Emergency Departments in 2020: Findings from a NIDA Clinical Trials Network Site Selection Process.” Authors are Lindsey Jennings; Laura Lander; Tricia Lawdahl; Erin McClure; Angela Moreland; Jenna McCauley; Louise Haynes; Timothy Matheson; Richard Jones; Thomas Robey; Sarah Kawasaki; Phillip Moschella; Amer Raheemullah; Suzette Miller; Gina Gregovich; Deborah Waltman;…
Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR) Conference 2024: Oct. 16-18
The Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR) conference, held since 2005, brings together researchers, policymakers, and treatment providers to solve the problems of inequity, access, effectiveness, and implementation of addiction services. This conference has been hosted across the United States at leading institutions, including Weill Cornell Medicine, Brandeis University, the University of Utah School of Medicine, Brown University, and more. This year, the conference is hosted by the Center for Dissemination and Implementation (CDI), a Stanford University initiative, at the historic Palace Hotel in the beautiful and bustling city of San Francisco, near quintessential landmarks…
News from the Health Systems Node
2024 Emerging Leader Awards from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies The Health Systems Node is pleased to announce and congratulate Jennifer Bobb, PhD Associate Scientific Investigator in the Biostatistics Division at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, on receiving one of the 2024 Emerging Leader Awards from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies. This award is given to up to 8 early career statisticians (international award eligible for all statisticians) who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the field of statistical science. Dr. Bobb was specifically recognized for…
CTN Quarterly Steering Committee Meeting, April 16 – Updated start time: 2:45pm ET
The next Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Quarterly Steering Committee Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 2:45 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. ET. Note: this is an updated start time! Join using this link | Download agenda If you would like to be added to the calendar invitation please email ctnsupport@leedmci.com. Also, while we will not convene in person this Spring, we are excited to announce our next in-person meeting will be held in the Fall of 2024 to coincide with the CTN 25th Anniversary. Please stay tuned for a formal announcement…
SAMHSA’s Final Rule on MOUD Published
In February of this year, SAMHSA published a final rule allowing for the flexible use of medications to treat opioid use disorder in Opioid Treatment Programs that were enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to become permanent. Highlights of this modification include: This rule (89 FR 7528) became effective on April 2, 2024, and providers need to be in compliance by October 2, 2024. The specifics and further details can be found on the Federal Register website.
News from the New York Node: Welcome Ryan D. McDonald!
The New York Node is pleased to welcome Ryan D. McDonald as their new Node Coordinator. Ryan has worked at New York University Grossman School of Medicine in the Department of Population Health for over 12 years under Joshua Lee, MD, MSc. He joined Dr. Lee’s research team in 2011 as a Research Coordinator and since then has moved his way up to Project Manager, Program Manager, and most recently Program Director of research for the Department of Population Health’s Lee Lab. Most recently, Ryan managed a large multisite trial…
Northeast Node Webinar: Emergency Department Initiation of Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment (April 25, 2024, 12pm ET)
In this session, Javad S. Mashkuri, MD (Central Vermont Medical Center) will review protocols for emergent treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the Emergency Department (ED), discuss linkage and coordination of AUD care from ED to outpatient settings, discuss the role of peer recovery/ED care management in care planning and transitions, and will utilize case studies to illustrate the Refocus on Alcohol Dependence (ROAD) experience. Connect to Zoom (meeting ID & link): 919 7631 6490Passcode: 870392April 25, 2024 | 12-1pm ET 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credit available….
C-DIAS: Fellowship in Addiction: Dissemination & Implementation Science – DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 15, 2024
The C-DIAS Fellowship in Addiction Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Science is designed for early or mid-career individuals who have a goal of using rigorous methods in D&I science to improve public access to a high quality of addiction treatment. The deadline to apply for this year’s program has been extended to APRIL 15, 2024! The C-DIAS D&I Fellowship enables individuals to maintain full-time employment at their institutions while participating in the Fellowship. There is a one-week on-site experience at Stanford University (Palo Alto, California), but otherwise the 2-year experience is…