Cerebellum and mood in bipolar disorder
Official title: Cerebellar metabolism, neural circuits, and symptoms in bipolar disorder
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11408518 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study will look at how the cerebellum’s signals and metabolism relate to mood changes in people with bipolar I and compare them with non-affected individuals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $754,617 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH111578-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408518 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with bipolar I who can commit to 2 years of follow-up and brain imaging.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without bipolar I or unable to complete regular imaging or mood assessments may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will follow 170 people with bipolar I and 90 similar controls for two years, using brain imaging to track metabolism, function, and structure while mood fluctuates. Participants will have weekly mood check-ins and periodic brain scans to link mood changes with cerebellar activity. The aim is to understand how the cerebellum helps maintain stable mood and what goes wrong during depressive or manic episodes. The study builds on prior findings that the cerebellum is involved in bipolar disorder and seeks to map dynamic brain changes over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify brain mechanisms related to mood changes in bipolar disorder, potentially guiding better diagnosis and targeted treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests cerebellar involvement in bipolar disorder, but longitudinal links between mood and cerebellar changes are not well established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magnotta, Vincent a — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Magnotta, Vincent a
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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.