Can CBT-I change a brain receptor linked to depression?
Official title: Mechanistic clinical trial evaluating the role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) in the antidepressant mechanism of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11324636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a sleep therapy called CBT-I changes a brain glutamate receptor (mGluR5) and helps adults with depression and insomnia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $714,188 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH137211-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 or older with major depression and persistent insomnia who can attend visits at Stony Brook and undergo brain imaging are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without depression or insomnia, those under 21, or individuals who cannot undergo brain imaging (for example pregnant people or those with incompatible implants) are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If you are an adult with depression and trouble sleeping, the team will provide CBT-I and take measurements before and after treatment to see if a specific brain receptor (mGluR5) changes. They will use brain imaging and standard sleep and mood questionnaires to track receptor levels, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms. The researchers will compare biological and symptom changes to understand whether improving sleep is tied to molecular changes linked to antidepressant effects. The goal is to link observable symptom improvement to a measurable brain mechanism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could explain how improving sleep eases depression and point toward new treatment targets or ways to personalize care.
How similar studies have gone: CBT-I is known to reduce depressive symptoms and prior studies have linked mGluR5 changes to antidepressant effects like ketamine, but using mGluR5 measures to explain CBT-I’s antidepressant action is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Delorenzo, Christine — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Delorenzo, Christine
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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.