NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Personalized iTBS for Depression: Faster, Targeted Brain Stimulation

Official title: Frequency and E-field Enhancement of iTBS for Depression (FREED)

Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11569546 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A personalized, time-efficient brain stimulation approach may help people with treatment-resistant depression achieve better relief using tailored iTBS settings.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2026
Project endAugust 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$287,841
NIH project number3R33MH129471-03S1
Project IDNIH-11569546 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with treatment-resistant depression who are eligible for iTBS therapy and able to undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Less likely to help

Individuals not responding to iTBS personalization or with contraindications to TMS may not experience benefit.

What this research studies

This project aims to tailor intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for people with treatment-resistant depression by adjusting stimulation frequency and brain target areas to match each patient’s own brain rhythms. By focusing on theta-gamma coupling and individualized parameters, the study seeks to improve remission rates while delivering treatment in a shorter daily session. Participants would undergo non-invasive brain stimulation with careful monitoring of mood and clinical outcomes to see if personalization offers added benefit. The research will be conducted at UC San Diego, led by Dr. Zafiris (Z. Daskalakis) and team, and will build on existing rTMS evidence in depression.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients with TRD could experience higher remission rates with shorter daily treatments.

How similar studies have gone: Previous iTBS approaches are non-inferior to rTMS; this study tests added personalization to improve efficacy.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California, San Diego
    La Jolla, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Daskalakis, Zafiris J. — University of California, San Diego
  • Study coordinator: Daskalakis, Zafiris J.

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.