RESEARCH

Developing and pilot testing a novel remotely delivered intensive outpatient program for individuals with opioid use disorder hospitalized with serious injection-related infections.

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA056799)
• Project period: 2022-2024
• The aims of this R21 grant are to adapt an existing online intensive outpatient program for the hospitalized patient population and conduct a pilot feasibility trial with hospitalized patients with serious infections.

Ketamine for the treatment for opioid use disorder and suicidal ideation in the emergency department (K-SAFE)

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD, Peter Chai MD
• Funding: National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA058119)
• Project period: 2023-2025
• The aims of this R21 grant are to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the safety of utilizing ketamine for the treatment of opioid use disorder and suicidal ideation among patients in the emergency department, and to conduct a preliminary assessment of the impact of ketamine on opioid-related outcomes.

 A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial of semaglutide to treat opioid use disorder

•  Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
•  Funding: National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA060304)
• Project period: 2024-2026
• The aims of this R21 grant are to 1) determine the effects of semaglutide on opioid cravings, and 2) determine the safety and preliminary efficacy on OUD-related outcomes.

 A pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tirzepatide for severe alcohol use disorder

•  Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: Brigham Research Institute McGraw Family Innovator Award
• Project period: 2025-2026
• The aims of this award are to 1) determine the effects of tirzepatide on alcohol cravings, and 2) determine the safety and preliminary efficacy on AUD-related outcomes.

Low-dose induction using oral buprenorphine as a novel strategy (LOTUS-O)

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA057545)
• Project period: 2023-2025
• The aim of this R21 grant is to determine the pharmacokinetics of orally administered buprenorphine and metabolites in humans to inform trials utilizing PO buprenorphine as a low-dose induction strategy.

Oral complications from sublingual buprenorphine treatment: A prospective cohort study

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: National Institute on Dental and Craniofacial Research (R21DE033319)
• Project period: 2023-2025
• The aims of this R21 grant are to conduct a prospective cohort study of individuals receiving sublingual buprenorphine or methadone to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of oral complications, and to conduct a qualitative study to understand the barriers and facilitators to preventing and receiving oral health care.

Extended-release buprenorphine as a low-dose induction strategy

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: National Institute on Drug Abuse (R21DA060411)
• Project period: 2024-206
• The aims of this R21 grant are to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of extended-release buprenorphine as a low-dose induction strategy

Pilot randomized trial of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of severe alcohol use disorder

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: Donor funds
• Project period: 2025-2027
• The aim of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treating severe alcohol use disorder

Safety trial of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for individuals with opioid use disorder and serious injection-related infections

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: Donor funds
• Project period: 2025-2027
• The aim of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treating opioid use disorder

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD, Peter Chai MD
• Funding: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R21AA030372)
• Project period: 2022-2024
• The aims of this R21 grant are to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the safety of utilizing ketamine for the treatment of alcohol use disorder among patients seeking inpatient detoxication in the emergency department, and to conduct a preliminary assessment of the impact of ketamine on alcohol-related outcomes post discharge.

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: National Institute on Drug Abuse (K23DA042326)
• Project period: 2017-2022
• The aim of this career development award is to help the candidate become an independent investigator by obtaining training in 1) conducting clinical trials, 2) gaining proficiency in conducting research that combines pharmacotherapy with psychosocial treatments, 3) developing skills necessary to conduct research in general medical settings, and 4) obtaining greater understanding of quantitative methods needed for clinical research. The proposed project is a 6-month randomized controlled trial of recovery coaches assigned to hospitalized opioid use disorder patients being newly initiated on buprenorphine compared to treatment-as-usual.

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Project period: 2020-2021
• The aim of this pilot study is to determine if a digitally assisted recovery coach intervention using a smartphone app (“Lifeguard”) is feasible in facilitating the linkage of patients to outpatient treatment after inpatient withdrawal management.

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: Harvard Medical School Broderick Phytocannabinoid Research Initiative Faculty Research Grant
• Project period: 2021-2022
• The aim of this placebo-controlled cross-over trial is to evaluate the impact of cannabidiol on attentional bias and decision making among individuals with opioid use disorder

• Principal Investigator: Joji Suzuki MD
• Funding: Brigham Research Institute McGraw Family Innovator Award for Opioid Research
• Project period: 2019-2020
• The aims of this R21 grant are to conduct a prospective cohort study of individuals receiving sublingual buprenorphine or methadone to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of oral complications, and to conduct a qualitative study to understand the barriers and facilitators to preventing and receiving oral health care.