Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Utah, through its Office of Sponsored Projects Division, received a $201,960 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279), effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. This five-year award funds a mixed-methods feasibility trial investigating transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a therapeutic intervention for methamphetamine use disorder (MAUD) during pregnancy. The research addresses a critical public health gap, as current evidence-based treatments for MAUD—including contingency management, behavioral counseling, and pharmacological interventions—demonstrate only modest efficacy, and no FDA-approved medications exist for this indication. TMS, an FDA-approved non-invasive neuromodulation technology with established efficacy for depression and nicotine use disorder, represents a novel treatment approach with preliminary evidence of safety and tolerability in pregnant populations.

The award funds development and execution of a feasibility and acceptability study of TMS for MAUD during pregnancy, coupled with investigator training and professional development activities. Specific project deliverables include conducting rigorous prospective clinical trial research, employing mixed-methods qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and generating evidence regarding the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of TMS as a treatment modality for pregnant women with substance use disorders. The research is positioned to establish foundational knowledge supporting future effectiveness studies and to develop the investigator's capacity as an independent clinician-researcher specializing in neuromodulation interventions for pregnant populations with substance use disorders.