Improving treatment for depression using a new stimulation technique
Official title: Frequency and E-field Enhancement of iTBS for Depression (FREED)
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10876920 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people with treatment-resistant depression feel better by using a special type of brain stimulation that’s tailored to their individual brain patterns, with the goal of providing faster and more effective relief from their symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $749,530 |
| NIH project number | 5R61MH129471-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10876920 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression who have not responded adequately to standard therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-treatment-resistant forms of depression or those who have not been diagnosed with depression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel approach to treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD) using intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The study aims to enhance the effectiveness of iTBS by personalizing treatment parameters based on each patient's unique brain activity patterns. By optimizing the frequency and location of stimulation, the researchers hope to improve remission rates and reduce the time required for treatment. Patients will receive brief daily sessions of stimulation, potentially leading to quicker and more effective relief from depressive symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and faster treatments for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that rTMS is effective for depression, and while iTBS is a newer approach, it has demonstrated comparable efficacy, making this investigation a promising extension of existing treatments.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Daskalakis, Zafiris J. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Daskalakis, Zafiris J.
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Personalized iTBS for Depression: Faster, Targeted Brain Stimulation
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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.