Investigating the links between inflammation, serotonin, and mitochondria in major depression
Official title: Inflammatory, mitochondrial and serotonergic interrelationships in the pathogenesis of major depression
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-10804603 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how inflammation, serotonin levels, and energy production in the brain work together in people with major depressive disorder, and it’s for anyone who wants to help us learn more about depression so we can find better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $639,486 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH119379-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10804603 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have major depressive disorder or those with other psychiatric conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how inflammation, serotonin regulation, and mitochondrial function interact in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). By using advanced imaging techniques like positron emission tomography (PET) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the study aims to assess brain activity and health in both depressed individuals and healthy volunteers. The goal is to understand how these three factors contribute to the severity of depression, potentially leading to better-targeted treatments. Participants will undergo brain imaging and blood tests to gather comprehensive data on their condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for patients suffering from major depression.
How similar studies have gone: While the individual components of this research have been studied, the combined approach of examining inflammation, serotonin, and mitochondrial function together in MDD is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mann, Joseph John — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mann, Joseph John
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A large genetics study is exploring what makes extreme forms of major depression unique, by studying many thousands of people and their DNA.
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Understanding immune dysfunction and social stress in veterans with depression
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-
Risk pathways to major depression using big Danish and Swedish data
A large study using health and genetic data from Denmark and Sweden will help understand what genetic and environmental factors contribute to major depression across how people grow up.
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Understanding genetic and environmental pathways to major depression in Nordic health records
A large study will look at how genes and life experiences combine over time to influence major depression, using Danish and Swedish population data.
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.