ERIC J. NESTLER, MD, PhD NASH FAMILY PROFESSOR OF NEUROSCIENCE CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSCIENCE DIRECTOR, FRIEDMAN BRAIN INSTITUTE MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Please do not use or distribute without obtaining permission 1
WHY IS DEPRESSION RESEARCH IMPORTANT TO SUICIDE 2
HDRF UMBRELLA OF DEPRESSION
HOW IS HDRF MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
DECREASE IN PHARMACEUTICAL FUNDING 5
Commonly Used Antidepressants SSRIs: Trade Name Celexa Cipralex, Lexapro, Luvox Paxil, Seroxat Prozac Zoloft, Lustral Generic Name Citalopram Escitalopram Fluvoxamine Paroxetine Fluoxetine Sertraline SNRIs: Trade Name Cymbalta Effexor Ixel, Savella Pristiq Generic Name Duloxetine Venlafaxine Milnacipran Desvenlafaxine Others: Trade Name Wellbutrin Remeron Older tricyclics Generic Name Buproprion Mirtazapine Many
All of these drugs have the same mechanism of action as original antidepressants introduced 60 years ago. New treatment development has been stalled.
STATUS OF DEPRESSION TREATMENT TODAY STAR-D, the largest study ever conducted, with over 2,500 participants, found that >50% DO NOT ACHIEVE a full, sustained remission with currently available treatments.
DEPRESSION TASK FORCE In 2010, HDRF launched its Depression Task Force (DTF) a select group of world-renowned researchers. It is an outstanding collaboration of leading neuroscience experts each of them scientific pioneers in their own right who have joined together to work as an integrated team to develop a unique program of depression research, based on the most advanced techniques in molecular biology, electrophysiology, and genetics. 9
DEPRESSION TASK FORCE HDRF S strength is to get such successful investigators, each affiliated with a different university, to come together to work on a common project. 10
Depression Task Force Huda Akil, Ph.D. University of Michigan Expertise: Lead researcher of genes and proteins that cause vulnerability to major depression. Expert in the brain biology of emotions, stress and depression. Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York Presbyterian Hospital Expertise: Studies genetic models that show a predisposition to neuropsychiatric illness using optogenetic techniques. Expert in electrophysiology.
Depression Task Force Rene Hen, Ph.D. Columbia University Expertise: Investigates specific serotonin receptors as well as hippocampal neurogenesis to pathological states such as depression and anxiety. Expert in neurogenetics. Helen Mayberg, M.D. Emory University Expertise: Examines neural systems mediating mood and emotions with a primary emphasis on major depression and its recovery. Expert in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as a therapeutic for treatment resistant depression.
Depression Task Force Michael Meaney, Ph.D. Douglas Institute McGill University Expertise: Studies early environmental regulation of gene expression and brain development. Expert in epigenetics. Bruce McEwen, Ph.D. Rockefeller University Expertise: Investigates stress effects upon brain centers involved in emotion, fear memory and mood control. Expert in the neuroscience of stress and emotion.
HDRF RESEARCH PLAN - 2013 HDRF HAS THE VISION TO IMPLEMENT A COMPRENSIVE RESEARCH PLAN TO STUDY ORIGINS OF DEPRESSION MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS NEW MEDICATIONS OTHER NEW TREATMENTS AND PREVENTION 14