New Ways to Treat Depression with Ketamine-Related Medicines
Official title: Therapeutic Efficacy of Ketamine Metabolites for Depression Treatment
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11367134 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how parts of ketamine, called metabolites, might offer a faster and safer way to help people with major depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2016 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $60,205 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH107615-10S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367134 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who experience major depressive disorder, especially those who have not found relief with traditional antidepressant treatments, could potentially benefit from future therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have major depressive disorder or who respond well to existing antidepressant medications may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Many people with major depression find that current medications take a long time to work, or don't work well enough. Ketamine has shown promise as a fast-acting antidepressant, but it can have unwanted side effects. This project looks at specific parts of ketamine, called metabolites, to see if they can provide the antidepressant benefits without the side effects. By understanding how these metabolites work, we hope to create new and better medicines for depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, fast-acting antidepressant medications with fewer side effects, offering quicker relief for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Ketamine itself has demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects in patients, and this research builds on those findings by focusing on its metabolites to improve safety.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gould, Todd D — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Gould, Todd D
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Exploring Ketamine-Related Compounds for Depression
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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.