Portable, low-cost genetic test to guide antidepressant choices
Official title: A Portable, Low-Cost, Pont-of-care Microfluidic System for Rapid Pharmacogenomic Screening of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11309190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a small, affordable device that rapidly reads genes that affect how people with major depressive disorder process antidepressants to help choose safer, more effective medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $722,936 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH137467-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11309190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with major depressive disorder who are about to start or change antidepressant medication, especially SSRIs, or those with prior poor responses or side effects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without major depressive disorder, those treated exclusively with non-CYP-metabolized therapies, or people who already have comprehensive pharmacogenomic testing are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team is building a handheld microfluidic device that can run rapid pharmacogenomic tests at the point of care to read key CYP genes such as CYP2D6 and CYP2C19. The device is designed to use a small blood or saliva sample and deliver results much faster than sending samples to a central lab. Faster results could let clinicians tailor antidepressant selection and dosing earlier, reducing trial-and-error prescribing. The research combines engineering, genetic assays, and clinical workflows to make testing cheaper and more accessible in outpatient clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people with depression get the right antidepressant sooner and reduce side effects from wrong dosing.
How similar studies have gone: Genetic testing for CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 is already used in clinical settings and some tests have shown benefit, but a rapid, low-cost point-of-care microfluidic device would be a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Venton, B. Jill — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Venton, B. Jill
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Psilocybin-Assisted ACT for Co-Occurring Cocaine Use Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder
A new treatment combines psilocybin with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people who have both cocaine use disorder and major depressive disorder.
-
Single-cell study of mood-regulation brain circuits in depression
A large study will map which genes and cell types in mood-related brain circuits are linked to major depressive disorder, including differences by ancestry and sex.
-
Single-cell map of mood circuits in major depressive disorder
Researchers will map the tiny brain cells in mood-control areas to understand how genes and cell types relate to depression, with attention to ancestry and sex.
-
Making genetic research clearer to find genes linked to major depression
Researchers will use health records and genetic data to pinpoint genes that drive major depression, aiming to help people with depression get better-targeted treatments.
-
How iTBS and a brain drug could boost brain wiring to help depression
A study tests whether a brain-stimulating treatment (iTBS) works by improving brain plasticity and whether adding a drug (DCS) enhances this effect for people with major depressive disorder.
-
Psilocybin paired with cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with depression
This project combines two supervised psilocybin sessions with 12 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for adults living with major depressive disorder.
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.