Our History
Over the last decade, the NCWR has grown and evolved into an expanding organization dedicated to the fight against pain and addiction. Our journey has included educating medical students about addiction medicine, establishing an addiction and recovery clinic and performing cutting-edge research in order to advance our mission.
Historic Settlement Advances the Mission
A historic settlement between the State of Oklahoma and Purdue Pharma in March 2019 established a $200 million endowment positioning NCWR to provide leading-edge research to treat the opioid addiction epidemic gripping the country.
Outside of the legal settlement, NCWR was given access to more than 20 years of research molecules and data that were developed with a goal of advancing the science of pain and addiction and to hopefully discover safer alternatives to treatment. Much of this research has never been published, giving the NCWR research team unique insights that are streamlining our research priorities.
NCWR was also provided with access to nearly 50,000 human bio samples from consenting patients enrolled in more than 20 Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials where opioids and non-opioids were under investigation. In the long term, we hope to leverage this asset to discover biomarkers relevant to pain and addiction, neither of which are currently available in clinical practice.
“The partnership between the National Center for Wellness and Recovery and OSU Center for Health Sciences is a testament to our shared vision of a healthier future. Together, we’re harnessing the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, merging cutting-edge research with compassionate care. This alliance is not just about sharing resources; it’s about multiplying our impact, ensuring that every individual has access to the best possible pathways to recovery.”
Dr. Johnny Stephens
President, OSU Center for Health Sciences