Robin Newhouse, PhD, MSN, RN, dean and distinguished professor of the Bloomington-based Indiana University School of Nursing, unveiled 16 pilot projects under the university's "Responding to the Addictions Crisis" initiative Feb. 5, including a statewide database on opioid use.
The Responding to the Addictions Crisis initiative is part of Indiana University's $50 million effort to prevent, reduce and treat addictions in Indiana. The initiative awarded initial pilot grants to teams of faculty members, researchers and community organizers.
One of the pilot projects, a database on opioid use dubbed the Indiana Addictions Data Commons, aims to ensure health systems, law enforcement and public health agencies have access to a centralized source of data about opioid addiction in the state.
Peter Embi, MD, president and CEO of the Indianapolis-based Regenstrief Institute, will lead the Indiana Addictions Data Commons project, including development of a "data commons" infrastructure to streamline standardization and integration of health, environmental, behavioral and community data related to opioid addiction.
"We can't solve this crisis without having a constant and reliable finger on its pulse," Dr. Embi said. "By working with our partners to aggregate the relevant clinical and community-level data and enable access via a comprehensive research hub, the Indiana Addictions Data Commons will provide the critical insights we need to better understand and address this epidemic for all Hoosiers."