Understanding the brain changes in major depression
Official title: Human brain multi-omics to decipher major depression pathophysiology
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-10912634 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how major depressive disorder affects the brain, especially a part called the hippocampus that helps with mood and memory, to find out what changes happen in the brain and how stress and treatments might play a role, which could help us understand depression better and improve ways to treat it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $767,719 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH133561-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912634 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other psychiatric disorders or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the biological changes in the brain associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) by examining the hippocampus, a region critical for mood regulation and memory. Using advanced techniques like high-resolution mass spectrometry and single-cell RNA sequencing, the study aims to identify specific proteins and genes that differ between individuals with MDD and those without psychiatric conditions. By analyzing these changes at both the regional and single-cell levels, the research seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms of MDD and how they may be influenced by stress and treatment. This could lead to a better understanding of how depression affects brain function and potentially improve treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into the biological basis of major depression, potentially resulting in more effective treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding brain changes in depression using similar biological approaches, indicating that this line of inquiry is both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boldrini, Maura — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Boldrini, Maura
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
-
Understanding immune dysfunction and social stress in veterans with depression
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.
-
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.