How gene differences and early adversity shape depression risk in young people
Official title: Interactions between individual differences in gene expression and adverse experiences underlying susceptibility and resilience to depression
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-11346920 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant studies why some kids and teens exposed to early stress develop depression and others don’t, looking at how their genes in the brain might influence resilience or vulnerability.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $818,498 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH144672-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11346920 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adults who have or have not experienced early adversity and who are at risk for or have depression.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without any history of adversity or depression may derive less direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how natural differences in brain gene activity related to adversity, resilience, and depression affect the chance of developing depression after early stress. The work combines basic neuroscience in animals with studies in people, using genetics and statistics to connect brain pathways to outcomes. Since direct measurement of brain gene activity isn’t possible in living participants, the team will use innovative approaches to infer these signals from human data. The project spans developmental stages from children to young adults, aiming to identify who is most at risk and who may show resilience after adversity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of who is more vulnerable or more resilient to depression after adversity could guide personalized prevention and early intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in animals and humans has linked hippocampal pathways to adversity and depression, suggesting this approach is scientifically grounded.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Dijk, Milenna Tamara — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Van Dijk, Milenna Tamara
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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.