Caron Opens First-Of-Its-Kind Center for Medical Research

The Fran and Doug Tieman Center for Research,

named for Caron Treatment Centers’ former President and CEO, announced the opening of a first-of-its-kind to be located at a nonprofit addiction treatment facility with a focus on medical research. Caron, a leading, internationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to addiction and behavioral healthcare treatment, research, prevention, and addiction medicine education, has already demonstrated a track record of success in medical research. However, the revamped building, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and labs, now offers much-needed space to facilitate more studies. It will also allow for recruitment of individuals interested in participating in research from outside Caron.

The focus of the Center for Research includes crucial components of substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery such as identifying genetic markers associated with increased risk for addiction, relapse prediction, and repurposing medications approved by the FDA to treat other diseases.

“Addiction is a disease of the brain so it’s important for us to understand the biological mechanisms involved,” said Dr. Olapeju Simoyan, MD, MPH, BDS, FAAFP, FASAM, Caron’s Founding Executive Director of Research. “Just as with cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, research is essential to advance our field.”

The Center for Research will also focus on expanding academic partnerships to foster research and train healthcare professionals to apply the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments in their practices. The Center for Research is also establishing a pipeline program to engage high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in research and healthcare.

“Research done well requires proper funding, precision, patience and diligence,” said Dr. Joseph Garbely, DO, DFASAM, FAPA, who is the Chief Medical Officer and the Executive Vice President for Medical Strategy, Education and Research at Caron Treatment Centers. “By making this investment, we can substantially improve our understanding of relapse, increase treatment options, and identify tools and markers to make addiction a significantly more preventable and treatable disease.”

Current studies at the Fran and Doug Tieman Center for Research Caron Treatment Centers

• Use of a Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonist to Treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) UG3/UH3 Grant – Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Collaboration with Penn State College of Medicine

The goal of this study is to determine whether an existing FDA approved diabetic/obesity medication (liraglutide) will be effective in treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Liraglutide is a safe and effective medication for weight loss. It works by helping people to feel satiated, thereby reducing cravings and allowing them to make healthier choices. In collaboration with Penn State Hershey and with funding from NIDA, the Caron research team is evaluating whether liraglutide can be repurposed to reduce cravings in people with OUD.

• The Efficacy of Suvorexant in the Residential Treatment of Patients with Substance Use Disorder and Insomnia: A Pilot Open Trial in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine.

Research shows that sleep plays a significant role in people’s ability to establish and maintain emotional, mental and physical wellness. The goal of this collaborative study is to explore whether suvorexant, a sleep medication approved by the FDA, can help reduce the risk of relapse by improving the quality of sleep and reducing cravings.

• Bridge Device Utilization for Opioid Withdrawal in Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) patients: Exploring the use of the Bridge device (an auricular percutaneous nerve field stimulator) as a modality for reducing symptoms of opioid withdrawal in patients during inpatient detoxification. (Anticipated start date: Fall, 2022)

Research shows alternative approaches to chronic pain are gaining traction as legitimate options in healthcare. In this instance, we are evaluating whether a nerve stimulation device offers sufficient relief from withdrawal symptoms when compared with a placebo device. If effective, the device could allow for decreased need for pharmacological intervention.