Exploring Ketamine-Related Compounds for Depression
Official title: Therapeutic Efficacy of Ketamine Metabolites for Depression Treatment
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11018573 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at different forms of ketamine to find new, faster-acting ways to help people with major depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2016 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $666,651 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH107615-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018573 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is most relevant to patients living with major depressive disorder, especially those who have not found sufficient relief from existing antidepressant medications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without major depressive disorder would not directly benefit from this specific research, as it focuses on developing treatments for this condition.
What this research studies
Many people with major depression struggle to find treatments that work quickly or consistently. While ketamine has shown promise for rapid relief, it can have unwanted side effects. This project focuses on understanding how ketamine's breakdown products, called metabolites like (2R,6R)-HNK, might offer the antidepressant benefits without as many side effects. By studying these compounds, we hope to discover new medications that can provide faster and safer relief for depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new medications that offer rapid and sustained relief from depression with fewer side effects than current treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Ketamine itself has demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects in clinical settings, and this research builds upon those findings by exploring its metabolites for improved safety and efficacy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gould, Todd D — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Gould, Todd D
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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.