Neuronal signals guiding deep brain stimulation for neuropsychiatric disorders
Official title: Neuronal mechanisms of deep brain stimulation for psychiatric disorders
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11438671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist at Stanford plans to study how deep brain stimulation changes brain cells and circuits in people with OCD, depression, and movement disorders to improve how DBS therapies work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $195,794 |
| NIH project number | 1K08MH145573-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11438671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with OCD, severe depression, or movement disorders who are candidates for DBS.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to DBS therapy or whose condition is not related to CSTC circuit dysfunction may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores how DBS affects neuron activity and connections in CSTC brain circuits, using both patient data and mouse models. The team will record single-cell activity and patterns across multiple brain regions while DBS is applied, with an eye toward predicting which stimulation settings will help symptoms. They will also investigate how repeated DBS reshapes brain circuits over time and how these changes relate to clinical outcomes. The work aims to guide more effective, personalized DBS protocols for patients with severe neuropsychiatric conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to DBS settings that better relieve symptoms with fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous DBS studies have shown meaningful symptom improvements in some patients, but precise cellular-level predictors are still being developed.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hainmueller, Thomas — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hainmueller, Thomas
Related research
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Improving deep brain stimulation with MRI and AI
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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.