# Modular Adaptive Virtual Reality Intervention for Clinical Substance use disorder (MAVRICS)

> **NIH NIH R41** · INNATEVR, LLC · 2021 · $256,580

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a chronic, recurring condition that if left untreated, poses a significant
and ongoing public health threat. OUD is associated with significant impairments in physical and
psychological health including increased mortality and high utilization of emergency medical care as well as
increased risk of Hepatitis C and HIV infection and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). OUD is also
associated with increased justice and child welfare systems involvement. Currently, the number of empirically
supported behavioral interventions for the treatment of OUDs is limited, the majority of which cannot be tailored
(customized) to meet the unique needs of the individual client. As such, the relapse rate for individuals with
OUDs remains high.
Virtual reality cue exposure (VRCE) has shown considerable promise in addressing substance craving, one of
the most salient components of OUD. Through repeated exposure to substance use cues within a controlled
virtual environment, over time these virtual exposures weaken the relationship between substance use cues
and craving, potentially leading to decreased substance use and lower probability of substance relapse.
Unfortunately, currently available commercial VR products lack the essential ability to easily and repeatedly
update exposure environments to introduce novelty or incorporate new or evolving substance use cues. This
limitation results in less user engagement over time, potentially leading to user disengagement and premature
treatment termination.
This research aims to improve upon currently available commercial virtual reality (VR) products designed to
address substance misuse by developing a novel subscription-based software product (Helix) that supports
ongoing customization of virtual reality-based cue exposure (VRCE) environments resulting in a tailored
intervention addressing substance craving. Using measurable benchmarks on standardized assessments of
usability and acceptability and informed by feedback from focus groups of key stakeholders, the Helix software
will continually be refined until satisfactory levels of usability and acceptability are achieved. This software will
also be evaluated to determine if it is feasible for use in both residential and outpatient substance abuse
treatment settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10256275
- **Project number:** 1R41DA053878-01
- **Recipient organization:** INNATEVR, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Michelle (Micki) E Washburn
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $256,580
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10256275

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10256275, Modular Adaptive Virtual Reality Intervention for Clinical Substance use disorder (MAVRICS) (1R41DA053878-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10256275. Licensed CC0.

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