Rana Jawish, MD, an assistant professor of psychiatry, has been awarded a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award to study methamphetamine use disorder during pregnancy, according to an August 18 statement. The five-year, $1 million award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will support research into using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a potential treatment for this population.
The research, titled Developing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a Therapeutic Modality for Methamphetamine Use Disorder During Pregnancy, will involve a first-of-its-kind clinical trial. This mixed-methods study will enroll 45 pregnant participants who will be randomized into one of three groups: a four-week daily TMS protocol, a two-week accelerated TMS protocol, or treatment as usual. Researchers will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the treatment while assessing maternal and neonatal outcomes.
While TMS is an FDA-approved non-invasive brain stimulation treatment for conditions such as nicotine dependence and major depressive disorder, it has not previously been studied for methamphetamine use disorder during pregnancy. The study is being conducted under an FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE). NeuroStar has donated a TMS device to the Huntsman Mental Health Institute to support the launch of this clinical trial in 2026.
The study addresses a growing public health concern, as methamphetamine use disorder can affect up to 5% of pregnancies in certain regions. Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for this condition. Dr. Jawish stated that the work is an example of translational research, bringing knowledge from neuroscience, psychiatry, obstetrics, and addiction treatment directly to patients in need.
