Blood markers in teens to detect suicide risk and predict treatment response
Official title: Neural-Derived Plasma Exosomal MicroRNAs As Promising Novel Biomarkers for Suicidality and Treatment Outcome in Adolescents
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11135505 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are measuring tiny RNA fragments in blood exosomes to find signals of suicide risk and treatment response in adolescents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,479,918 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1MH130539-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11135505 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults with recent suicidal thoughts or a recent suicide attempt, and those beginning treatment for suicidal ideation.
✕Less likely to help
Children much younger than adolescents or people without suicidal thoughts or behaviors are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would give small blood samples that researchers will use to isolate neural-derived exosomes and read microRNA patterns found in the brain. The team will compare these microRNA signatures between teens with and without suicidal thoughts or attempts and track how the signals change after treatments, including medications like ketamine. The work builds on earlier adult findings showing similar brain and blood changes linked to suicidality and treatment response. Outcomes will be compared to clinical symptoms to see whether blood signatures map onto risk and improvement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a simple blood test to flag teens at higher suicide risk and help match them to treatments more likely to work.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary adult studies showed similar brain and blood microRNA changes and treatment-linked shifts after ketamine, but using neural-derived exosomal microRNAs specifically in adolescents is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dwivedi, Yogesh — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Dwivedi, Yogesh
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.