The Development of a Personalized Feedback Program for Substance Use Disorder Risk

About This Grant

Project Summary This STTR Phase I application brings together a company, Unchained Health, Inc., with the mission of reducing the burden of addiction, and a leading addiction researcher, Dr. Danielle Dick, Director of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center, to develop an interactive, web-based personalized prevention program for addiction for commercialization. Substance use disorders (SUDs) are among the most costly health conditions, creating a tremendous burden on affected individuals, families, and society at large. Because the development of SUD is preceded by a prolonged trajectory of risk related behavior, there should be ample opportunity to intervene early to prevent progression to problems. Based on the current research, we know who is most at risk for SUDs; however, there is no product currently available to bring this information to the public at scale. ~80% of individuals say they would want to receive personalized risk information for SUDs. This proposal would create a novel interactive program that will deliver personalized risk information, followed by tailored evidence-based recommendations and resources to reduce risk. Unchained Health, Inc. plans to bring this interactive feedback program to the public on a scale appropriate to the magnitude of the problem. It capitalizes on Dr. Dick’s 20+ years of NIH funded research on risk prediction for addiction, and how to create engaging prevention programming. Importantly, Dr. Dick’s preliminary work suggests that personalized risk information is more effective at reducing substance use than standard prevention programs. The Phase I Specific Aims focus on feasibility and commercial potential. In Phase I we will (Aim 1) Build the interactive personalized feedback program on Unchained Health, Inc. platform. The program will consist of two primary parts: (Part 1) the delivery of personalized risk estimates, and (Part 2) the provision of tailored resources to reduce risk. (Aim 2) Conduct an initial market survey to gauge interest and evaluate product price points from two primary target audiences: (1) emerging adults, who are entering a high risk period for the onset of SUDs, and (2) parents of emerging adults, who want to assist their children with avoiding problems and promoting well-being as they transition into adulthood. We will also (Aim 3) seek input from the FDA about possible regulatory requirements. Phase 1 Deliverables will be an executed licensing agreement with Rutgers, a minimum viable product, market data on interest and customer acquisition costs to guide direct-to-consumer marketing strategy, and guidance from the FDA. These activities will lay the foundation for a Phase II application, which will focus on customer feedback on the platform for program refinement, an RCT to evaluate and quantify effects on substance use and mental health associated with program engagement, and further refinement of marketing strategies. At the completion of Phases I and II, we aim to have a novel prevention program ready for commercialization, with the ultimate goal of reducing the burden of addiction and promoting healthy outcomes.