Postmortem brain molecular analysis to learn about PTSD and depression
1/3 Understanding PTSD through Postmortem Targeted Brain Multi-omics
This project looks for molecular differences in donated brain tissue from people who had PTSD, major depression, or neither to better understand what underlies these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11335679 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use donated postmortem brains from people with PTSD, major depressive disorder, and neurotypical controls. They will examine specific brain regions linked to stress and emotion (amygdala, hippocampus, dorsal raphe) and measure DNA, DNA methylation, and RNA splicing and expression. About 300 additional brains will be added across three sites and combined with genetic data to find patterns tied to each diagnosis. The work aims to reveal molecular signatures that distinguish PTSD from depression and from people without these disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The most relevant people are individuals with a history of PTSD or major depressive disorder — or their next-of-kin — who can arrange brain donation after death and share medical records.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment or those without PTSD or depression are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this postmortem research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological pathways that lead to better diagnostics or new treatment targets for PTSD and related depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous postmortem and molecular studies have identified some changes linked to PTSD and depression, but this large, targeted multi-omic, region-specific comparison across hundreds of brains is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nemeroff, Charles B — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Nemeroff, Charles B
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 below.