Preventing depression and developing new treatments depend on our learning how genetics and environmental factors interact in our brains and the rest of our bodies to cause different types of depression. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the different types of depression will enable us to design targeted treatments. Below, we share our active research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying depression.

Uncovering Microbial Modifiers of Antidepressant Responses During Pregnancy

PI: Elaine Hsiao

The gut microbiome interacts with many common medications, with the ability to modify their efficacy for treating disease. Hsiao aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms underlying interactions between the gut microbiome and antidepressants, and how such interactions impact the effects of antidepressant treatments for maternal depression during pregnancy. While this project is housed in Integrative biology and physiology, DGC capabilities and resources are leveraged.

Learn more about the microbial modifiers study

Developing a Pathway from Genetic Locus to Gene for Complex Traits in Rodents*

PI: Jonathan Flint

This research is developing a method that makes gene identification at complex trait loci in rodents simple and more efficient, made possible by referencing and using mouse models of anxiety, a common and debilitating psychiatric illness whose origins are poorly understood and for which we have relatively ineffective treatment.

Learn more about this gene identification study

*An asterisk indicates projects that are housed outside the Depression Grand Challenge because they did not require or, at the time of submission for funding, predated an existing DGC capability or resource.