How early-life stress changes gene regulation in the brain to affect later anxiety and depression
Epigenetic priming of response to future stressors
This project looks at how childhood adversity changes chemical tags on genes in brain cells that may make people more likely to have anxiety or depression after later stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257265 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a mouse model that mimics early-life adversity and focus on a brain region called the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that is linked to mood and stress responses. They will map chromatin accessibility and 3-D chromatin structure and measure gene activity using methods like ATAC-seq and transcriptomics to see how early stress leaves a lasting molecular memory. The team will compare molecular changes before and after adult stress and relate those changes to behavior in animals. The goal is to identify molecular pathways by which early stress 'primes' later sensitivity to stress that could guide future human studies or therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of significant early-life adversity who have experienced anxiety or depression would be the most relevant group if the research later includes human sample donation or clinical follow-up.
Not a fit: Those without a history of early-life adversity or whose mood/anxiety problems are unrelated to stress priming are unlikely to benefit directly from the current preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets to prevent or reduce stress-triggered episodes of depression and anxiety in people with childhood adversity.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and clinical studies implicate the VTA and epigenetic changes in stress-related disorders, but mapping chromatin-based priming across development and in response to later stress is a relatively new and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Princeton, UNITED STATES
- Princeton University — Princeton, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pena, Catherine Jensen — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Pena, Catherine Jensen
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 below.