Imaging the brain's endocannabinoid system in young people with depression or suicidal behavior
Official title: Imaging Alterations in Endocannabinoid Metabolism in Depression and Suicide
Funded at Centre de Recherche de L'hopital Douglas · NIH-11251610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team will use PET brain scans to measure an enzyme that controls natural cannabis-like chemicals in teens and young adults with depression, some with past suicide attempts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Centre de Recherche de L'hopital Douglas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Montreal, Canada) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $539,383 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131651-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are teens and young adults with current depression, including those with a history of suicide attempts, who can travel to Montreal for imaging and study visits.
✕Less likely to help
People without mood disorders, those who cannot safely undergo PET/MRI (for example, pregnant individuals or those with certain medical implants), or those unable to travel to Montreal are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would come to the Douglas Research Centre in Montreal for brain imaging, clinical interviews, and blood tests. Researchers will use a PET tracer ([11C]CURB) to measure FAAH, the enzyme that breaks down endocannabinoids, and compare levels in people with depression (with and without suicide attempts) to healthy volunteers. They will also collect information on mood, impulsivity, trauma history, and blood markers to link brain measurements with symptoms. The goal is to see whether differences in this enzyme relate to depression and suicidal behavior and point to new treatment targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that target FAAH or the endocannabinoid system to help relieve depression and lower suicide risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior blood and postmortem studies and early clinical data suggest altered endocannabinoid signaling and higher FAAH in some people with depression or suicide, but measuring FAAH in the living brain is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Centre de Recherche de L'hopital Douglas
Montreal, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mizrahi, Romina — Centre de Recherche de L'hopital Douglas
- Study coordinator: Mizrahi, Romina
Related research
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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.