Single-cell map of mood-regulating brain regions in depression
Official title: 1/2 Large-scale, single-cell characterization of molecular and cellular networks of mood regulation circuitry in major depressive disorder
Funded at Lieber Institute, INC. · NIH-11184427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will make a detailed cellular map of key brain areas that control mood to find molecular changes linked to major depression and how these vary by ancestry and sex.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lieber Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,074,074 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131817-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with a clinical history of major depressive disorder who can consent to brain donation (or whose families can), plus matched control donors across ancestries and sexes.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatment changes or those who are not brain donors are unlikely to receive a direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project will analyze human brain tissue from people with and without major depressive disorder to map which cell types and genes are changed in depression. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing, researchers will measure gene activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, basolateral amygdala, and hippocampus at single-cell resolution. The team will include samples from diverse ancestries—especially African American donors—and compare male and female patterns. The work aims to identify cell types, gene networks, and circuit connections that differ in depression and could point to new targets for diagnosis or treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal specific cell types and molecular pathways to target for new diagnostics or treatments for depression.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier, smaller single-cell studies in depression have found cell-type-specific gene changes but were limited by sample size and ancestry, so this larger, more diverse effort builds on promising prior findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Lieber Institute, INC.
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hyde, Thomas Michael — Lieber Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hyde, Thomas Michael
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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Mapping cell and gene changes in the brain linked to depression
Mapping genes and cell types in key mood-regulating brain regions from people with major depressive disorder, including diverse ancestries and both sexes.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.