News from the Node

Northeast Node Core Investigators Dr. Sarah Lord and Daisy Goodman have been approved for $5.3 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study medication-assisted treatment (MAT) models for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD). The study will span across five years and will look at three different types of MAT and obstetric treatment for pregnant women with OUD at 21 sites across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Many of these sites are partners or affiliates of the Northeast Node or work closely with its partners in the care of pregnant women with OUD.

The study will directly compare MAT programs that are integrated with obstetric care (or vice versa), and those that use referral-based services.

You can read an article about the exciting award here, published by the Geisel School of Medicine.

“The project was selected for PCORI funding for its potential to fill an important gap in our understanding of various medication-assisted treatment delivery models and to give pregnant women with opioid use disorder information that can help them weigh the effectiveness and safety of their care options,” says PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby, MD, MPH. “We look forward to following the study’s progress and working with the Geisel researchers to share the results.”

PCORI funding requires input from patients in every aspect of the project, including the application process. Together with the investigators, these patient advisory committee members have been able to help shape the project in a way that is both scientifically relevant and publicly needed.

The team at the Northeast Node would like to extend our congratulations to the investigators, sites, and consultants/advisory committees for this amazing achievement!