# A pilot study to characterize brain dynamic biomarkers of fentanyl for opioid overdose monitoring

> **NIH NIH R21** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $210,000

## Abstract

The opioid epidemic is one of the largest public health crises in modern history. First-responders, emergency
room personnel, and overdose observation units encounter drug overdose patients under varying degrees of
sedation and physiological distress. The time course of drug effects, and the dosing requirements of reversal
medications, can be difficult if not impossible to gauge, given the different potencies of opioids that could be in
effect, and the unknown drug sensitivity of individual drug users. The goal of this project is to characterize the
EEG signatures of fentanyl in humans, and their relationship with states of unconsciousness and systemic
physiology. We propose to do so within the highly controlled confines of the operating room, where fentanyl is
routinely administered general anesthesia. In doing so, we aim to construct a clinical and quantitative
neurophysiological basis for fentanyl's effects that can be used to develop new monitors to improve care of
opioid overdose patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9894778
- **Project number:** 5R21DA048323-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Patrick L. Purdon
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $210,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9894778

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9894778, A pilot study to characterize brain dynamic biomarkers of fentanyl for opioid overdose monitoring (5R21DA048323-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9894778. Licensed CC0.

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