Personalized deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression
Official title: Responsive Neurostimulation for Treatment Resistant Depression
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11374734 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new brain-stimulation approach aims to help people with hard-to-treat depression by tailoring where and when stimulation is given based on individual brain signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,559,508 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3NS123310-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374734 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with severe, treatment-resistant major depression who meet study criteria and consent to neurosurgical procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without suitable biomarker signals or who do not respond to DBS may see limited or no improvement.
What this research studies
This project tests a customized deep brain stimulation (DBS) strategy for people with severe, treatment-resistant depression. It uses pre-surgical mapping and a closed-loop system that triggers therapy only when a patient’s brain activity indicates a depressive state. The study consists of a 3-stage plan: initial invasive monitoring to identify personalized targets, implantation of a chronic DBS device, and evaluation of safety and early effectiveness in a small group. The goal is to maximize benefit while reducing side effects and extending device life by avoiding unnecessary stimulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience better mood and function with a more precise, low-side-effect DBS therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work suggests targeted, closed-loop DBS can be effective in mood disorders, but this approach is among the first to personalize targets and trigger stimulation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krystal, Andrew D — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Krystal, Andrew D
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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.