Investigating how deep brain stimulation affects white matter in the brain
Official title: Establishing the anatomical and functional mechanisms of white matter deep brain stimulation
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10928228 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to use deep brain stimulation to help people with tough-to-treat neurological or mental health issues by focusing on the brain's white matter, and researchers are testing this on macaques to see how it affects mood and emotions over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $807,861 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132789-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928228 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from treatment-resistant neurological or psychiatric disorders, particularly those with severe mood disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild mood disorders or those who respond well to conventional treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores a new approach to deep brain stimulation (DBS) that targets white matter in the brain rather than specific areas. By studying macaques, the researchers aim to understand how stimulating certain white matter tracts can influence brain activity and potentially improve symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant neurological or psychiatric disorders. The study will analyze both immediate and long-term effects of this stimulation on mood and emotional states, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of this therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for patients with severe mood disorders who do not respond to traditional therapies.
How similar studies have gone: While deep brain stimulation has been used in various contexts, this specific approach targeting white matter is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior research.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rudebeck, Peter — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Rudebeck, Peter
Related research
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-
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A brain stimulation therapy in people with epilepsy whose seizures aren’t controlled by medicines or surgery is being studied to see if it can help achieve seizure freedom.
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TinyML-powered closed-loop DBS for Parkinson's disease
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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.