Understanding how the immune system and brain barriers affect depression and anhedonia

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project looks at adults with affective disorders to understand whether immune activity and changes in the blood-brain barrier contribute to how severe depression and anhedonia are. It uses clinical assessments, blood tests, and brain connectivity measures to connect immune markers with brain function related to reward. The study follows participants over about three months to see how these factors change together and with symptoms. If the findings hold, they could point to new ways of diagnosing and tailoring treatments for depression.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  New York, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Murrough, James Warren — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Study coordinator: Murrough, James Warren

Related research

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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.