# HEALing Communities Study Data Coordinating Center Supplement

> **NIH NIH UM1** · RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE · 2021 · $5,000,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
A seeming unrelenting opioid crisis is devastating the United States, with rural states and communities being
hit especially hard. Actionable guidance is desperately needed to curb the death and devastation caused by
opioid misuse and addiction. Recognizing the urgent need, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched the HEALing
Communities Study (HCS) to reduce opioid overdose fatalities by at least 40% in 3 years. Four research
sites (RSs) and a data coordinating center (DCC) are evaluating the implementation of evidence-based
prevention and treatment interventions, and their cost and cost-effectiveness. RTI servse as the DCC for
HCS. We coordinate and facilitate communications to unite the HCS members into a cohesive research
cooperative (Aim 1a). We work with the RSs to apply implementation science methods to understand the
barriers and facilitators to successful uptake of proven interventions in health care, behavioral care, criminal
justice, and other public health settings (Aim 1b). Novel insights will be gained through the application of
advanced data management, biostatistics, analytic, and computing techniques (Aim 2). We have the
infrastructure in place to support efficient operations. Data harmonization is enhanced using innovative
methods and tools for selecting common data elements and for transforming data from many administrative
systems to a consolidated HCS data model. We will conduct health economics research to determine the
incremental costs of start-up and ongoing implementation, and the cost-effectiveness of evidence-based
approaches to mitigate the opioid epidemic (Aim 3). We have developed a microsimulation model that will
inform optimal resource allocation to achieve target reductions in opioid overdose deaths and other negative
outcomes. We will develop the Opioid Policy Simulator as a translational tool for communities (internal and
external to HCS) to use as they plan their own interventions to reduce opioid effects in their locales. The
Simulator will be an interactive online tool to help decisionmakers synthesize information from multiple
sources and select the combination of interventions best suited for their community. Our DCC team, led by
multiple Principal Investigators Drs. Emmanuel Oga, Gary Zarkin, and LaShawn Glasgow are experienced
leaders of multi-site studies and experts in data harmonization, biostatistics, health economics, and addiction
etiology. Our broader team of investigators and consultants brings robust scientific and implementation
science skills interwoven with a deep understanding of the opioid crisis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10353177
- **Project number:** 3UM1DA049394-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Emmanuel Aja Oga
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $5,000,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2023-09-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10353177

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10353177, HEALing Communities Study Data Coordinating Center Supplement (3UM1DA049394-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10353177. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*