Investigating how antidepressants work in the brain to help treat depression in veterans.

BLRD Research Career Scientist Award Application

NIH-funded research Jesse Brown VA Medical Center · NIH-10951544

This study is looking at how antidepressant medications work in the brains of veterans and active-duty military members with depression, hoping to find clues that could help make treatments faster and more effective for everyone.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionJesse Brown VA Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-10951544 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which antidepressant medications affect brain cells, particularly in veterans and active-duty military personnel suffering from depression. It aims to identify a cellular 'biosignature' that could indicate how effective these medications are and why some patients do not respond to treatment. By examining the behavior of specific proteins in brain cells after antidepressant treatment, the study hopes to uncover new insights that could lead to faster-acting and more effective therapies for depression. The research will utilize both cultured cells and post-mortem tissue samples to explore these mechanisms.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include veterans and active-duty military personnel who are experiencing symptoms of depression.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a diagnosis of depression or who are not veterans or active-duty military personnel may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective antidepressant treatments with quicker onset of relief for patients suffering from depression.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the cellular mechanisms of antidepressants, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Affective Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.