Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) awarded the University of Miami a $731,258 Project Grant under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242) on March 1, 2026, with completion targeted for November 30, 2030. This research project delivers neuroscientific investigation into the neural dynamics underlying Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) by utilizing high-stakes, real-world academic events as naturalistic stimuli. The study employs functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan 144 participants—72 diagnosed with GAD/MDD and 72 control subjects—across five sessions to precisely delineate anticipatory and reactive neural processes during undergraduate students' receipt of grades on challenging chemistry examinations. The research applies advanced Hidden Markov modeling techniques to differentiate negative affective brain states during anticipation, reaction, and recovery phases, with preliminary findings suggesting that hippocampal activity patterns may drive the recurrence of emotional dysregulation states.

This investigation addresses critical gaps in affective neuroscience by moving beyond artificial laboratory stimuli to capture authentic emotional dynamics in naturally occurring, goal-relevant events. The research deliverables include characterization of distinct yet interrelated neural mechanisms underlying emotion dysregulation in anxiety and depressive disorders, novel insights into how negative affective brain states emerge and persist in real-world contexts, and contributions to understanding the neural circuit dynamics that may inform more effective treatment approaches for these highly prevalent disorders affecting approximately 300 million individuals annually worldwide.