NIH-funded research R01 grant

Improving how well escitalopram works for kids with anxiety

Official title: Improving the Effectiveness and Safety of Escitalopram in Pediatric Anxiety

Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-10868603 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how we can make the anxiety medication escitalopram work better and be safer for kids and teens by using their genetic information to personalize their treatment, so they can feel better with fewer side effects.

More Anxiety research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Cincinnati
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cincinnati, United States)
Project startApril 19, 2024
Project endJune 30, 2025
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$556,564
NIH project number5R01HD099775-06
Project IDNIH-10868603 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents aged 0-21 years who are experiencing anxiety disorders.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have anxiety disorders or are outside the age range of 0-21 years may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing the effectiveness and safety of escitalopram, a common medication for anxiety, specifically in children and adolescents. It aims to identify genetic factors that predict how well young patients respond to this treatment, which could help tailor medication dosing to individual needs. By conducting blinded, randomized trials, the study seeks to determine if personalized dosing based on genetic information can lead to better outcomes and fewer side effects for young patients suffering from anxiety disorders.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and safer treatment options for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.

How similar studies have gone: While pharmacogenetic approaches have shown success in adult populations, this specific application in pediatric patients is novel and has not been previously tested.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Cincinnati
    Cincinnati, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Strawn, Jeffrey Robert — University of Cincinnati
  • Study coordinator: Strawn, Jeffrey Robert

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.