NIH-funded research R01 grant

Exploring the brain mechanisms of depression in Parkinson's disease

Official title: Identifying and targeting the neural basis of depression in Parkinson's disease

Funded at Yale University · NIH-11014387 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how depression affects the brains of people with Parkinson's disease to find out what’s happening in their brains and help create better treatments for them.

More s Disease research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project startApril 1, 2024
Project endMarch 31, 2029
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$558,752
NIH project number5R01NS125482-02
Project IDNIH-11014387 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who also experience symptoms of depression.

Less likely to help

Patients with Parkinson's disease who do not experience depression or those with other unrelated mental health conditions may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the unique neural mechanisms underlying depression in patients with Parkinson's disease (dPD). It aims to identify specific synaptic and network-level changes in the brain that contribute to depression, which often occurs before motor symptoms in Parkinson's. Using advanced imaging techniques like PET and fMRI, the study will compare brain activity and structure in individuals with dPD, those with Parkinson's without depression, individuals with major depressive disorder, and healthy controls. The goal is to uncover new treatment targets that could lead to more effective therapies for depression in Parkinson's disease.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted treatments for depression in Parkinson's disease, improving quality of life for affected patients.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in identifying brain mechanisms related to depression, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Yale University
    New Haven, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Holmes, Sophie — Yale University
  • Study coordinator: Holmes, Sophie

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.