Genetic subtypes of major depression
Official title: Identifying Genetically Distinguishable Subgroups within Major Depressive Disorder
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11219386 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether people with major depression can be grouped by their genetics to better understand different forms of the condition for people of different ages and ancestries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | January 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $730,338 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH141707-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11219386 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with major depressive disorder—including teens (around age 16), people with postpartum or atypical depression, and individuals from diverse ancestries who can provide genetic and clinical data.
✕Less likely to help
People without available genetic data or whose depression is mainly driven by non-genetic factors are unlikely to receive direct personal benefit from this project in the short term.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine genetic and clinical data from many people with major depressive disorder to create the largest genetic dataset for subtypes such as early-onset, atypical, postpartum, and severe depression. They will apply new statistical tools (Genomic LOSEM and Genomic SEM) to see how genetic patterns change with age at onset, sex, and socioeconomic status and to separate risks that are shared from those unique to specific subtypes. The project includes people from diverse ancestral backgrounds and will release the subtype results and analytic tools as public resources so other scientists can build on the work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor diagnosis and future treatments by identifying biologically distinct forms of depression and the patients most likely to benefit from targeted approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large GWAS and Genomic SEM work have found genetic links for depression, but applying Genomic LOSEM and assembling a very large subtype-focused GWAS at this scale is a novel extension.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keller, Matthew Charles — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Keller, Matthew Charles
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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.