Baltimore Delegation Announces Nearly $775,000 for Drug Addiction Research at Johns Hopkins University
Funding will enable scientists to better evaluate effectiveness of a new medical technology known as a Bridge Device
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) today announced $774,845 in federal funding for Johns Hopkins University to support critical research on drug use and addiction.
The funding, which comes through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), will explore innovative intervention treatment for opioid use disorders. Specifically, the funding will enable researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of new medical technology known as the Bridge Device, a neuromodulator that helps patients with opioid withdrawal symptoms.
“The opioid epidemic – exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic – continues to upend communities and destroy lives across Maryland and our nation,” the lawmakers said. “This funding will provide crucial support in evaluating a potential new tool for expanding substance use disorder treatment and recovery. We will keep fighting to increase access to recovery resources and save the lives of those who suffer from this terrible disease.”
The opioid epidemic has taken the lives more than 450,000 from 1999-2018. The Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery Program was founded in 2009. Scientists in this program study toxicology, drug metabolism, biochemistry and the impacts of drugs on the human neurological system. More information on Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery Program can be found here.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has been advancing addiction science for decades, as it studies the consequences of opioids and addiction to further inform and protect the public. More information on NIDA can be found here.