Investigating spinal pathways to improve treatment for depression
Official title: Modulating spinal interoceptive pathways to evaluate their role and therapeutic potential in MDD symptomatic domains
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-10869491 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how signals from your body to your brain might be linked to depression, and it will test a safe way to stimulate your spinal cord to see if it can help improve mood and brain activity related to depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $898,025 |
| NIH project number | 1R61MH133770-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10869491 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are experiencing symptoms of major depressive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have major depressive disorder or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how spinal interoceptive pathways (SIPs) communicate bodily signals to the brain and their connection to major depressive disorder (MDD). By using non-invasive spinal cord stimulation, the study aims to modulate these pathways to better understand their role in MDD and assess their therapeutic potential. Participants will undergo a double-blind, crossover, sham-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of different stimulation doses on brain activity related to depression. The research will utilize advanced techniques like electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the impact of the stimulation on the brain's response to emotional signals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for major depressive disorder by targeting specific spinal pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggests that targeting spinal interoceptive pathways may be a promising approach, although this specific method is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Romo-Nava, Francisco — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Romo-Nava, Francisco
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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.