Investigating how ketamine affects depression through specific brain receptors
Official title: AMPA Receptor Components of the Antidepressant Response to Ketamine in Humans
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11078769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how ketamine helps people with treatment-resistant depression by checking how a specific brain receptor works, and it involves patients getting ketamine while researchers measure changes in their brain activity to find better ways to treat depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $711,776 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH129371-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078769 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 to standard antidepressant therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have treatment-resistant depression or those who are currently responding well to other antidepressant treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how ketamine, a treatment for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), works in the brain. It examines the role of AMPA receptors in the antidepressant effects of ketamine by using a drug called perampanel to see if it can block or enhance these effects. The study will involve measuring changes in brain activity and connectivity in patients with TRD before and after ketamine treatment. By exploring these mechanisms, the research aims to provide insights into more effective treatments for depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using ketamine for depression, but this specific approach involving AMPA receptors is novel and has not been extensively tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Driesen, Naomi R — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Driesen, Naomi R
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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.