# COBRE Center on Opioids and Overdose

> **NIH NIH P20** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2024 · $2,424,344

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
We propose to further strengthen and sustain the successful Center of Biomedical Research Excellence
(COBRE) on Opioids and Overdose at Rhode Island Hospital and affiliated research institutions. The
motivation for this effort lies in the ongoing tremendous need for greater scientific understanding of the
mechanisms underpinning vulnerability to opioid use and overdose and a need for more effective interventions
to treat and prevent opioid misuse and overdose. We will approach these challenges through ongoing,
cooperative partnership among senior scientists and early career investigators across several complementary
disciplines. We will continue our unique and innovative mentoring strategy that, in addition to primary project
advising, provides junior faculty members with specialized mentorship and services that empowers
investigators to influence policy and practice through their research. Moreover, our four interdisciplinary cores
provide infrastructure, consultation, and additional support services to ensure the successful career
development of our Project Leaders. The long-term goal of the Center is to strengthen and sustain a critical
mass of investigators specializing in opioids and overdose that benefits affected populations and enhances the
competitiveness of affiliated investigators. The objective of this proposal is to strengthen and continue to
develop the COBRE Center and to support the research activities of junior Project Leaders to ensure their
transition to R01-funded scientists and enhance the critical mass of researchers. There are two Specific
Aims—one related to the strengthening of our disease-specific research center, and one encompassing three
Research Projects that are linked by the themes of opioids and overdose. Aim 1: Strengthen the cores
needed to further develop and sustain our thematic multidisciplinary center of research excellence on
opioids and overdose. Four cores will continue to strive to achieve this aim: our Administrative Core, Data
and Research Methods Core, Translational and Transformative Core, and Community Engaged Research
Core. Aim 2: Support the selection, mentorship, and career development of early career faculty Project
Leaders. The three initial research projects are: Project 1: Nicole Weiss, PhD - Prediction of Return to Opioid
Use During Immediate Community Reintegration, Project 2: Michael Bernstein, PhD- Optimizing Open Label
Placebos for Chronic Pain Patients, and Project 3: new RPL to be assigned; R01 notice of award was
received, effective 9/30/22, for originally planned researcher. The Center brings together an interdisciplinary
group of accomplished senior scientists, promising junior investigators, and distinguished advisors and
collaborators to work collectively to strengthen our center of excellence in an area of clinical research that is of
critical public health importance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10923904
- **Project number:** 5P20GM125507-07
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSIAH D RICH
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $2,424,344
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10923904

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10923904, COBRE Center on Opioids and Overdose (5P20GM125507-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10923904. Licensed CC0.

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