Project Summary

Gerard Sanacora, M.D., Ph.D. (Independent Investigator 2007) of Yale University, notes that while monoamine neurotransmitters have held center stage over the past four decades, evidence now suggests that abnormalities in amino acid neurotransmitter (AANt) systems are involved in depression. He has developed a hypothesis coupling impaired glial cell function and altered AANT metabolism in a pathophysiological model of depression and is pursuing a series of studies to further explore this hypothesis. In the proposed study, he will explore specific mechanisms associated with the effects of stress on AANt function and the mechanism of action associated with these potentially novel antidepressant treatments. The information gained may provide new insights on the cellular mechanisms that contribute to the pathophysiology and treatment of depression.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Unipolar

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