Research

We are committed to conducting research to advance the treatment of depression, anxiety, and mood disorders, using a variety of innovative techniques, including brain imaging. We often seek participants for our studies. Our main areas of scientific focus are as follows:

  • Discovering brain circuit abnormalities specific to discrete mood and anxiety disorders and brain circuit abnormalities underlying specific dimensions of psychopathology
  • Developing neuroimaging biomarkers of disease and treatment response in mood and anxiety disorders; developing functional magnetic resonance imaging as a measure of target engagement for therapeutic interventions
  • Uncovering genetic and epigenetic contributions to mood and anxiety disorders through candidate gene and imaging-genetic approaches
  • Translating discoveries in basic and behavioral neuroscience into breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders
  • Identifying rapidly acting, more effective treatments for mood and anxiety disorders through early-phase clinical trials of mechanistically novel agents

We have published papers in a wide range of peer-reviewed journals.

Learn more about our publications

Multidimensional Brain Connectome Features of Depression and Anxiety

Short Title: Connectome

PI: Yael Jacob, PhD

Funding: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Description:

Complete 2 study visits; the first is an eligibility screening that can be completed either remotely or in-person, and the second visit will involve a 90-minute brain MRI scan to be completed in person. During the appointments, interviews and clinical self-report scales will be completed.

Basic Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Male or female aged 18-55 years
  2. Meets DSM-5 criteria for current major depressive disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), OR does not meet for any current or past psychiatric diagnoses.

Basic Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Any current or history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder, or neurocognitive disorder;
  2. Active substance use disorder within the past 6 months;
  3. Positive drug screen at MRI visit.

Study Participation Duration: 2 visits, each lasting up to 6 hours.

Compensation: Up to $150

ISMMS IRB Number: STUDY-22-01245

Pre-Screener Link: REDCap

Neural Circuit-Specific Mechanisms of Ketamine's Effect on Anhedonia and Anxiety in Depression Using Ultra-High Field 7-Tesla MRI

Short Title: SPARK

PI: James Murrough, MD, PhD; Laurel Morris PhD

Funding: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Description:

This project is designed to examine the role of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) in anhedonia and anxiety in humans with depression, as well as the acute and sustained effects of ketamine on sgACC activation and depression symptoms. All individuals will undergo clinical and behavioral assessment of anhedonia, anxiety, and other depression-relevant domains and task-based MRI with a validated reward task using ultra-high-field 7-Tesla (7T) MRI. Adults with MDD will then be randomized to either a single IV infusion of ketamine or a placebo, and undergo repeated clinical and behavioral assessments and 7T MRI at 1-day and 7-days post-infusion.

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Ages 18-65;
  2. Meets criteria for major depressive disorder or no history of mental illness according to the DSM-5;

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Meets criteria for schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder;
  2. Substance use disorder within the past 2 years;
  3. Unable to complete an MRI scan.

Study Participation Duration: 6 weeks

Compensation: Up to $1,040

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06213324

ISMMS IRB Number: STUDY- 23-00648

Pre-Screener Link: REDCap

Every clinical research study is a little different, but there are some overarching topics to consider when thinking about participation.

Learn more about participating in our research studies