Single-cell map of mood-regulating brain regions in depression
1/2 Large-scale, single-cell characterization of molecular and cellular networks of mood regulation circuitry in major depressive disorder
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 ID | NIH-11184427 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment changes or those who are not brain donors are unlikely to receive a direct benefit from this project.
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 performed: 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
Baltimore, United States
- Lieber Institute, INC. — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hyde, Thomas Michael — Lieber Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hyde, Thomas Michael
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.