VA psychiatry research career award advances brain-imaging and synapse biology for veterans
Official title: BBMH Research Career Development Transition Award Application
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11411814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A VA clinician-researcher is receiving support to build a long-term research program using brain imaging and molecular brain measures to understand mental illnesses in Veterans and identify new treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2026 |
| Project end | September 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 1IK4RD002698-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with serious mental illnesses who can participate in advanced brain imaging and cognitive assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for imaging studies or with conditions not related to the studied neurobiology may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a VA psychiatrist-researcher in expanding her work by adding longitudinal designs, multimodal brain imaging, and collaborations to bring advanced technology to studies focused on Veterans. The project blends PET, MRI, and MRS with clinical and cognitive assessments to connect synaptic changes to symptoms and daily functioning. A key aim is to link synaptic density with brain structure, chemistry, and systemic factors like the gut microbiome, to better understand underlying biology. The work will build on her ongoing SV2A-PET and EEG studies to map how synapses relate to circuit function and cognition. The program is designed to create a sustainable career path that could lead to future funded projects directly benefiting Veterans with serious mental illnesses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could uncover new brain-targets and biomarkers that guide better treatments for Veterans with serious mental illnesses.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work linking synaptic biology with imaging and brain function has shown promising correlations in humans, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Yvonne S — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Yang, Yvonne S
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.