Understanding immune dysfunction and social stress in veterans with depression
Official title: Validation of Immune Dysfunction in Model of Social Stress: Implications for Major Depression Disorder in Veterans
Funded at James J Peters VA Medical Center · NIH-11518516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in U.S. veterans with major depressive disorder looks at how stress-related immune changes may be linked to depression and heart health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James J Peters VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005054-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with major depressive disorder, especially those with a history of stress exposure and cardiovascular risk factors.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without depression or without immune-related mechanisms linked to stress are less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how immune system signals, like inflammatory cytokines, relate to depression in veterans who have experienced social stress. Researchers study animal models and human data to understand why some individuals become more vulnerable or resilient to stress and how this ties to cardiovascular risk. The work could point to new treatment ideas that target the immune system to improve mood and reduce heart problems in affected veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatments that alleviate depressive symptoms and reduce cardiovascular risk for veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show a connection between inflammation and depression, with some evidence supporting immune-targeted approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
James J Peters VA Medical Center
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pasinetti, Giulio Maria — James J Peters VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Pasinetti, Giulio Maria
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how social stress affects immune function and depression in veterans
This study is looking at how problems with the immune system might be connected to depression in veterans who have faced social stress, especially those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it hopes to find new ways to help improve their treatment for depression and PTSD.
-
Trans-Nordic look at extreme major depression genetics
A large genetics study is exploring what makes extreme forms of major depression unique, by studying many thousands of people and their DNA.
-
Genetic factors behind alcohol and opioid use disorders and depression in veterans
A study using genetic data from veterans to understand how genes contribute to co-occurring alcohol use, prescription opioid use, and depression.
-
Global Deep Learning effort to predict depression treatment response
A patient-focused project uses AI on brain scans to predict who with major depression will respond to rTMS treatment.
-
Risk pathways to major depression using big Danish and Swedish data
A large study using health and genetic data from Denmark and Sweden will help understand what genetic and environmental factors contribute to major depression across how people grow up.
-
Understanding genetic and environmental pathways to major depression in Nordic health records
A large study will look at how genes and life experiences combine over time to influence major depression, using Danish and Swedish population data.
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.