Fran & Doug Tieman Research Center - Caron Treatment Centers

Welcome to The Tieman Center for Research

The Center conducts cutting-edge research to better understand, prevent, and treat addiction. Addiction is a complex, multi-factorial disease that affects individuals, their families, and communities. That complexity calls for a multi-pronged approach to treatment and prevention. In partnership with our colleagues at various organizations, including Penn State Hershey and the National Institutes of Health, we are exploring novel biomedical approaches to find long-lasting solutions to the public health problem of addiction.

Caron's diverse group of experienced researchers collaborate with external partners to conduct research propelled by out-of-the-box thinking.

Research Vision and Mission

Vision: Advancing knowledge and providing evidence-based solutions in the field of addiction through biomedical research and training.

Mission: Caron Treatment Centers is committed to the continued growth of knowledge of the disease of addiction and how it affects individuals and families. To this end, the Fran and Doug Tieman Center for Research is devoted to:

Exploring the roots of the disease of addiction in all its many facets
Conducting high-quality biomedical research with integrity
Disseminating research findings aimed to advance the treatment of addictive diseases
Fostering collaborations with external stakeholders such as academic institutions to help advance addiction research endeavors on a broad scale

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Highlights from Completed Research Projects

Use of a Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1RA) Agonist to Treat Opioid Use Disorder

Collaboration with Penn State College of Medicine, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Caron’s research team was part of this groundbreaking study that could lead to a potential new treatment option for opioid use disorder, especially when used in combination with existing medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

The recently completed study examined the efficacy of liraglutide as a potential medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Liraglutide belongs to a class of medications called GLP-1RAs and is currently FDA-approved to treat Type II diabetes (at 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg) and obesity (at 3.0 mg). Liraglutide regulates appetite and glucose-dependent insulin secretion and slows gastric emptying. This leads to lower blood sugar levels and decreased appetite.

Researchers from Penn State Hershey Medical Center were interested in how liraglutide might also be able to decrease drug-seeking in humans. The animal model research demonstrated that acute treatment with liraglutide reduced cue- and drug-induced seeking for both heroin and fentanyl.

Caron patients with opioid use disorder who met the inclusion criteria could choose to participate in this study. This was a randomized, controlled, double-blind study with both a medication (liraglutide, up to 1.8mg/d) and placebo arm. During the 21-day study, patients completed surveys via a smartphone to measure cravings and mood so data could be captured in real time. To ensure patient health, researchers collected data on liver function, glucose, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.

The study found that liraglutide can be administered safely in this population. It also significantly reduced cravings compared to placebo and that reduction began with the lowest dose. In addition, it significantly reduced craving in the afternoon and evening when generally there is a rise. The group that received liraglutide in combination with medication-assisted treatment appeared to have the best results.

Penn State researchers will now try to replicate the study with a larger outpatient population. Supported by NIH grant UG3-DA050325 and a generous gift from Dr. Edward Saylor and his wife Janis. The study drug was provided by a Novo Nordisk research grant from the NNI Investigator Sponsored Studies Program. The opinions in this paper/presentation are that of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Novo Nordisk.

Current Research Projects

Please note: in cases where Caron’s participation in projects includes patients, they have elected to participate in the research and have been provided detailed information about what participation entails.

In collaboration with SOLVD Health

This study is a post-market study examining the performance of the AvertD test in the real world. AvertD is a genetic risk assessment tool that can be used to identify whether or not an individual has an elevated risk for an opioid use disorder (OUD). The test is indicated for prior use in individuals who have never been prescribed an opioid prior to surgery so they can better understand their risks when planning for post-operative pain management. The Federal Food and Drug Administration approved the test in 2023. Researchers will recruit 3,000 individuals from around the country to take part in this study. Participants will be opioid-naive individuals who are undergoing a medical procedure that requires an opioid prescription post-procedure. Researchers will follow up once a year for five years after the procedure to determine if an OUD develops.

In collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has shown potential for the treatment of addiction, but more research is needed to understand how TMS affects this change. Intermittent theta burst stimulation is a specific TMS protocol that can be delivered in a shorter time frame (approximately three minutes) versus repetitive (rTMS), which generally takes 30 to 45 minutes for a treatment. This study will examine whether iTBS attenuates prefrontal cortical central nervous system responses to alcohol cues and alters prefrontal cortex responses to tasks measuring risk-taking and impulsiveness in individuals with alcohol use disorder who are in inpatient treatment.

This study will explore whether the use of a non-invasive transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN) device, Sparrow® Ascent, can be used to relieve symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and reduce the need for comfort medications during alcohol withdrawal management. Transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation has proven effective in reducing symptoms of opioid withdrawal and researchers hypothesize that, because alcohol withdrawal has similar symptoms, tAN should prove effective in reducing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal as well.

In collaboration with Penn State University/Hershey Medical Center Projected

This study will demonstrate the utility of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRs) to predict treatment outcome using affordable, onsite, translational neuroimaging among patients in residential treatment for alcohol use disorder or opioid use disorder. This study will collect pilot data to pursue a larger federal grant.

In collaboration with Johns Hopkins University

This study will examine substance use treatment providers—counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists—and individuals in recovery’s perceptions of psilocybin’s medical use as a treatment for substance use disorders.

Project CONNECT is a grant-funded program administered by Caron’s Education Department.

This study will evaluate the fidelity and effectiveness of the Project CONNECT nicotine cessation program. Fidelity will be assessed via several indicators, including program adherence, and participant attendance and retention. Effectiveness will be determined by evaluating reduction in use / cessation of nicotine products, commitment to change, and increase in knowledge.

Recent Research Projects

In collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania

This study evaluated the potential beneficial effects of ketone supplementation for alcohol detoxification in patients with alcohol use disorder undergoing inpatient treatment. The proposed intervention has been developed based on neurobiological studies on brain metabolism in alcohol use disorder and previous work on the beneficial effects of a ketogenic diet in alcohol use disorder during detoxification. A non-invasive dietary supplement that reduces withdrawal severity would provide a novel therapeutic option for alcohol use disorder during detoxification.

This study examined burnout in inpatient and outpatient therapists, counselors, psychologists, and social workers who treat substance use disorders and explored which personality variables help mediate or exacerbate burnout.

In collaboration with Penn State College of Medicine

This pilot study measured prefrontal cortex brain activity leveraging the portability and accuracy of functional near infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS) neuroimaging. FNIRS findings predicted relapse approximately 85% of the time.