The University of Maryland, Baltimore joined the Appalachian Node of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network (NIDA CTN) as a consortium site in 2025
The Appalachian Node of the NIDA CTN is a collaborative effort designed to address clinical research questions that emerge from Central Appalachia. This region is considered an epicenter of the opioid epidemic, with some of the nation's highest rates of opioid overdose deaths and related morbidities. Factors like rural geography, a culture of independence, a strained economy and limited access to substance use treatment have all contributed to the crisis.
The node, which includes UMB alongside the University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia University, Penn State College of Medicine and the PaTH Research Network leverages this expanded network to test novel solutions. These efforts focus on harnessing local resources, employing health technology and incorporating bioinformatics to develop effective strategies to combat the opioid epidemic.
Led by Dr. Sarah Kattakuzhy, the local UMB core team also includes Drs. Eric Weintraub and Kelly Dunn. The UMB community is home to leading addiction experts, a wide range of clinical specialty services and innovative education programs. The UMB team collaborates with CTN partners on research trials as well as clinical care policy and educational initiatives.
UMB Site Principal Investigator
Associate Director, Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine
Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Co-Director, Research Initiative on Infectious Disease and Substance Use Disorder (RIIS)
Check out Dr. Kattakuzhy's research publications.
UMB Site Investigator
Associate Director, Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine
Professor of Psychiatry
Director of Division of Addiction Research and Treatment
Medical Director, Maryland Addiction Consultation Service
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Check out Dr. Weintraub's research publications.
UMB Site Investigator
Director, Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine
Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobiology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Check out Dr. Dunn's research publications.
UMB Site Manager
Clinical Research Manager, Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine
Check back to learn more about upcoming studies.
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