How gut-brain signaling affects reward learning in adolescents after facing adversity.
Official title: Dopaminergic Gut-Brain Signaling on Adolescent Reward Learning After Adversity: Toward New, Noninvasive Treatments for Depression and Anxiety
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11085199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the gut and brain communicate and how that affects learning and emotions in teens who have faced tough times, like trauma or stress, to find new ways to help improve their mental health and treat issues like depression and anxiety.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | May 8, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $662,446 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH136259-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have experienced significant stress or trauma and are showing symptoms of depression or anxiety.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 12 to 20 or those without symptoms of depression or anxiety may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between gut-brain signaling and reward learning in adolescents who have experienced adversity, such as trauma or stress. By examining how dopamine, a key neurotransmitter, influences behavior and emotional responses, the study aims to develop noninvasive treatments for depression and anxiety in young people. Participants may undergo assessments involving blood samples and behavioral tasks to understand their psychological and physiological responses. The goal is to identify new therapeutic approaches that could improve mental health outcomes for adolescents.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative, noninvasive treatments for depression and anxiety in adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding gut-brain interactions and their impact on mental health, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Callaghan, Bridget L — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Callaghan, Bridget L
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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.