RecruitingNot Applicable

Identifying Biomarkers Related to Opioid Use and Pain Response Following Traumatic Injury and Surgery

United States100 participantsStarted 2026-07-15

Plain-language summary

The mechanisms leading to opioid tolerance or dependence are not well understood and there are currently no biomarkers for predicting who is at risk for development of OUD. The purpose of this project is to support the feasibility of detecting a miRNA bio-behavioral signature of opioid misuse risk that will demonstrate improved predictive precision compared to current tools such as polygenic risk scores (PRS). Specifically, the study will address key goals of the Wellcome Leap program to develop scalable measures assessing individual addiction susceptibility and quantifying addiction risk and progression during prescription drug use. The study will utilize behavioral, genomics, and bioinformatics pipelines to characterize opioid-induced miRNA expression dynamics among trauma and surgical patients prescribed opioids at discharge. Based on results from this study, the research will develop a high-throughput screening assay to predict risk for opioid use disorder (OUD). The hypothesis is that miRNAs will serve as powerful bio-signatures for predicting long-term clinical outcomes in patients treated with opioids for pain management following trauma injury and/or surgery.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients 18 years of age or older * Patients admitted for traumatic injury at Hillcrest or Jacobs Medical Center or patients who will undergo the orthopedic (e.g., joint, spine), abdominal, breast, vascular (e.g., amputation), or thoracic surgery. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with a prior history of opioid use disorder or dependence * Pregnant women * Prisoners * Patients with an inability to independently provide informed consent to participate in the study due to lack of capacity. This lack of capacity can be from either a chronic/continuous condition (i.e. dementia), or can be temporary (i.e. clear signs of intoxication at the time of the visit (not alert or oriented, slurring words \[and confirmed not to be baseline\], unsteady gait \[and confirmed not to be baseline\], or appears impaired based on clinical judgement by PI/Co-I)).

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Persistent Opioid Use

Timeframe: 3 months after trauma injury/surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07693270

SponsorUniversity of California, San Diego

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2027-06

Contact for this trial

Rodney A Gabriel

858-663-7747 ragabriel@health.ucsd.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Opioid Use Disorder trials