Randomized Controlled Trial of Physiology-Informed TMS (piTMS) for Major Depressive Disorder. 2026 Award: $199,991 Current TMS treatments for depression use the same fixed timing pattern for every patient, even though real brain activity is irregular, fluctuating moment to moment. This study is testing a new personalized approach, physiology-informed TMS (piTMS), which uses a person’s own brain activity measured with EEG to build the timing of stimulation. By comparing piTMS directly against standard TMS in a randomized clinical trial, we aim to learn whether a more brain-derived stimulation approach can improve symptoms and produce stronger measurable changes in brain function. Need/Problem: Major depressive disorder remains inadequately treated for many people, and even effective therapies can be limited by side effects, time burden, or incomplete remission. Although TMS is a well-established non-medication treatment, current protocols still rely on fixed, synthetic timing [...]

The Carolina Recovery from Depression Protocol (CARED): A Novel Rapid Treatment Paradigm for Depression 2023 Award: $146,110 Researchers at UNC are developing a new, intensive therapy to treat depression that combines non-invasive brain stimulation and psychotherapy. The Carolina Recovery from Depression Protocol (CARED) is designed to reduce depression symptoms in just one day and may be a more accessible treatment option for those with financial and logistical constraints. This pilot study aims to test the feasibility and effectiveness of this novel approach to treating depression. Need/Problem: The mental health crisis continues to affect many people, and there is an urgent need for new treatments for conditions like depression. While some treatments, like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and psychotherapy, have shown promise, they are often difficult to access due to their cost and time requirements. Grant Summary: Recent research has shown that [...]

Network Neuroscience of a Novel Brief Intervention for Stress and Depression Symptoms in College Students 2022 Award: $41,080 College students constantly experience stress, which may lead to various mental health problems. Psychosocial interventions are effective treatments, while the neural mechanisms underlying their therapeutic benefits remain unclear. In this study, we will record the brain activities of the client and the therapist simultaneously during the intervention. We will examine how synchronized brain activities between the client and the therapist may help explain the therapeutic benefits of psychosocial interventions. Need/Problem: The vast majority of college students experience a high level of stress arising from academic pressure, monetary concerns, and newly gained responsibilities as young adults. Stress-related symptoms include anxiety, sleeping problems, difficulties concentrating, and a low mood. Those symptoms might persist and develop into mental disorders like depression, thus reducing the [...]

A Pilot Study of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression: acute changes, duration of effect and predictors of response 2021 Award: $101,078 Treatment Resistance in Major Depressive Disorder (TRD) is a common and serious condition with limited therapies available.  Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAT) is a new treatment that may be an effective antidepressant.  We will perform an open-label trial of PAT in TRD to measure acute changes in depressive symptoms after two PAT sessions. We will determine if the improvement in depression persists for four and eight weeks.  We will assess if response continues 6, 8 and 12 months after treatment.   We will determine predictors of acute response and longer duration of effect.  This will: establish feasibility and provide pilot date for larger clinical trial; estimate efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms; determine duration of effect, and; identify predictors of response. Need/Problem: [...]