# Longitudinal Networks Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN · 2022 · $394,952

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
The long-term goal of the Longitudinal Networks Core (LNC) is to enhance the fields of rural substance abuse
research and mobile health interventions (mHealth) by offering longitudinal human subjects cohort study capacity
to researchers across the Central Plains. To do this, LNC will make use of a cutting-edge cohort tracking and
retention software—the Open Dynamic Interaction Network (ODIN) platform—developed by senior Rural Drug
Addiction Research Center (RDAR) personnel. This software links data acquisition opportunities brought about
by advances in mobile computing and quantified-self technologies with new analytic tools in a seamless, user-
friendly, sustainable, and flexible manner. ODIN represents next generation software for both Ecological
Momentary Assessment (EMA) and social network data collection—two cutting-edge areas in social and
behavioral health research. In addition, ongoing expansion of the ODIN system allows for the integration of
emerging mobile biomarker technology into the ODIN data stream, including Actigraph, Emotive EEG, Fitbit, and
Empatica e4 wearables. These devices add functionality to collect large streaming data on physiological
measures such as cognition, physical activity/sleep, and individual stress via epidermal conductance. Using the
ODIN network and EMA platform, LNC will build and maintain a longitudinal Rural Drug User Cohort (RDUC)
consisting of 600 drug users in Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Kansas (Aim 1) in service to RDAR projects. The
cohort study will involve initial interviews; long-term collection of contextual, continuous time interaction data;
hepatitis C testing; and retention for interviews every six months. In this context, RDUC will serve as a strong
resource platform and subject pool for a Center projects seeking to collect data on the behaviors, attitudes,
biomarkers, and interactions of rural drug users to address critical questions related to rural addiction. Data from
this shared cohort will drive the research strategies of Center projects spanning the areas of neuroscience,
cognition and decision-making, simulation and epidemiology, epigenetics, and clinical research. In addition, LNC
will support the recruitment of RDUC sub-sets for lab-based tests associated with RDAR projects and provide a
foundation for future clinical trials for medically assisted addiction recovery drugs. During the period of COBRE
Phase 1 funding, LNC will develop a sustainable service capacity for health-related, cohort-based research at
the University of Nebraska (Aim 2), marking a significant advancement in regional health research and
intervention capacity. To help ensure this, LNC will host an annual mHealth workshop to introduce researchers
to the added capacity of ODIN and facilitate the translation of existing rural health interventions and addiction
related interventions to the ODIN platform. Contingency plans for meeting initial RDAR projects’ data
requirements (in the unlikely event o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10377944
- **Project number:** 5P20GM130461-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
- **Principal Investigator:** Bilal Khan
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $394,952
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-05 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10377944

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10377944, Longitudinal Networks Core (5P20GM130461-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10377944. Licensed CC0.

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