NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mood-state classifiers to guide brain stimulation for treatment-resistant bipolar depression

Official title: Building Mood State Classifiers to Inform Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression

Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11392518 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project tests a brain stimulation therapy combined with wearable and smartphone data to help people with treatment-resistant bipolar depression regain mood stability.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBaylor College of Medicine
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Houston, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2024
Project endAugust 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$1,898,801
NIH project number5UH3NS136631-03
Project IDNIH-11392518 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with treatment-resistant bipolar depression who may be candidates for deep brain stimulation.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not meet criteria for DBS or who do not respond to neural/behavioral monitoring may not benefit.

What this research studies

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine will test a sensing-enabled deep brain stimulation approach targeting the ventral capsule/ventral striatum in people with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. They will collect neural signals from the brain along with high-density behavioral data from wearables and smartphones to identify mood states and transitions in real time. The study aims to see if this approach is safe and can help shift patients away from depressive or manic states toward more stable mood and daily functioning. Data from real-time monitoring could inform personalized interventions to improve long-term outcomes for bipolar disorder.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience improved mood stability and reduced symptoms through a responsive brain-stimulation strategy guided by daily behavioral data.

How similar studies have gone: Past DBS research for mood disorders has shown safety and feasibility in some populations, with ongoing exploration of adaptive, data-guided approaches.

Where this research is happening

  • Baylor College of Medicine
    Houston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Goodman, Wayne K — Baylor College of Medicine
  • Study coordinator: Goodman, Wayne K

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.