$12 Million Grant to Fuel Landmark study of Substance Use, HIV & Overdose in New England
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A new, five-year study funded by a $12 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse will investigate the intersecting crises of substance use and infectious disease in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The aspiring research project,led by scientists at Brown University and collaborating institutions,aims to improve health outcomes for individuals impacted by the region’s escalating challenges.
Researchers are responding to a concerning rise in substance use alongside increasing rates of HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and overdose deaths across New England. The study will focus on evaluating the effectiveness of state-level programs designed to prevent these harms and address both emerging treatment and care initiatives.
The research team, a collaboration between Brown University, the University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, the University of Vermont, and Brown University Health, recognizes the unique challenges facing the region. Angela Bazzi, a professor of public health at UC San Diego, noted that “New England offers a compelling opportunity to conduct this work because the community has been heavily impacted by HIV, HCV, overdose and other harms tied to unregulated drug use.”
Focusing on Access and Innovation
The study will pay particular attention to disparities in access to vital services. Katie Biello, a Brown professor of epidemiology and behavioral and social sciences, highlighted that while some areas boast syringe service programs and robust drug treatment services, others – notably those outside major cities – face meaningful resource limitations.
Researchers will also evaluate innovative programs, such as the new overdose prevention center in Providence and existing syringe service programs offering on-site HIV preventative medication.This focus on both conventional and novel approaches is intended to provide a extensive understanding of what works best.
A Longitudinal Study with Broad Impact
The scale and duration of the study are significant. Researchers plan to enroll 1,200 participants across the three states and follow them for up to five years. “This grant will enroll a large group of people across three states and follow them for up to five years, allowing us to study complex questions that we’ve wanted to find answers to for a long time,” Biello stated.
The study will concentrate on four key areas:
- Trends in drug use patterns across the region.
- Barriers to treatment and care for HIV and HCV, and prevention of overdose.
- The impacts of existing and new programs designed to address these issues.
- The influence of acute and chronic conditions, such as mental health disorders, on the overall well-being of individuals who use drugs.
Researchers also hope to leverage the study to rapidly identify emerging threats, such as infectious disease outbreaks or the appearance of new, risky contaminants in the drug supply.
Collaboration with Community Partners
The success of the project hinges on strong partnerships with local organizations. The research team will collaborate with groups like tapestry Health in western Massachusetts, Community Care Alliance in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform in Burlington, Vermont. “These organizations are essential to engaging participants, ensuring the continued relevance of researchers’ questions, and gaining perspectives on local community needs, challenges and resources,” Bazzi explained.
the project, slated to launch in Fall 2025, is part of a larger consortium of six national Institute on Drug Abuse-funded studies focused on HIV and substance use. Marshall emphasized that this initiative will be the first of its kind based in New England, offering a crucial opportunity to “shed some light on what’s going on in these areas that haven’t been explored in the same way that urban areas have.”
