Deep brain stimulation targeting the medial forebrain bundle for severe treatment‑resistant depression
Official title: Elucidating Reward Network Modulation in Medial Forebrain Bundle Deep Brain Stimulation for Treatment Resistant Depression
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11239120 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will use deep brain stimulation of a key brain pathway to help people whose depression hasn't improved with other treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $608,033 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH138636-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11239120 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with major depressive disorder that has not improved after multiple medications and therapies, who are medically fit for brain surgery and willing to undergo DBS and follow‑up.
✕Less likely to help
People whose depression improves with standard treatments, those with medical or psychiatric contraindications to brain surgery, or those unwilling to undergo invasive treatment are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
You'll receive a small implanted electrode aimed at the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), a pathway that links reward areas of the brain. The team will monitor mood, ability to feel pleasure (anhedonia), and brain activity over time using clinical ratings and brain imaging to see how stimulation changes brain networks. The researchers bring years of clinical experience with MFB stimulation that produced strong responses in many patients, but outcomes vary and the mechanisms are not fully understood. The goal is to learn how changes in brain connectivity and metabolism relate to symptom improvement so treatment can be better targeted for each person.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce severe depressive symptoms and restore the ability to feel pleasure for people with treatment‑resistant depression.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller clinical work of MFB DBS has shown promising long‑term responses in many patients, but larger trials have had mixed results and the approach remains not universally proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Manhasset, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fenoy, Albert J — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Fenoy, Albert J
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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.