How genes affect depression, anxiety, and treatment response
Official title: Expanding Genetic Understanding of Depression, Anxiety, and their Treatments
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11325073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using large, diverse genetic datasets from veterans and other groups to find gene patterns linked to depression, anxiety, and how people respond to treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $675,351 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH133728-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11325073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal contributors are people with a history of depression or anxiety—especially U.S. veterans and individuals from diverse ancestry groups such as African American populations—who can join VA or other participating research cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate changes in clinical care or those without access to genetic testing or participating sites are unlikely to see direct short-term benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This project combines DNA data from the VA Million Veteran Program (over 900,000 participants) with other large datasets to find genetic differences tied to major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and related subtypes. The team will use whole genome sequencing and higher-density genetic arrays to improve detection of risk signals, especially in non-European groups including African American participants. Researchers will analyze how many genetic variants together influence risk and treatment response, and will look at specific anxiety subtypes like social phobia. The resulting genetic findings and summary data will be shared in public repositories so other scientists can build on the work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify genetic markers that help predict risk and guide more personalized treatments for depression and anxiety.
How similar studies have gone: Large genetic studies have already found some risk loci for depression and anxiety, but this larger and more diverse effort aims to extend and refine those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gelernter, Joel — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Gelernter, Joel
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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.