The federal Project Grant award R01MH139201 was provided by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242). The $919,453 award supports a 5-year study conducted by the Van Andel Research Institute (VAI) to identify the immunobiological mechanisms underlying the development of depression during the perimenopause in women. The key objectives are to: 1) determine plasma tryptophan metabolite and cytokine patterns in perimenopausal depression, 2) define epigenetic mechanisms in lymphocytes that confer vulnerability to developing depression, and 3) identify inflammatory and metabolic markers that normalize after treatment with hormonal substitution therapy. The research aims to improve understanding of the molecular basis of perimenopausal depression and help identify biomarkers and more effective treatments.
Generated 3/4/25, 6:57 AM