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NEUROIMAGING OF FATTY ACIDS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

Award Number: K08MH079033
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2008
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/30/2013

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NEUROIMAGING OF FATTY ACIDS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The applicant is seeking to become an independent investigator focusing on the role of dietary essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the neurobiology of mood disorders and suicide, using positron emission tomography (PET). PROJECT DESIGN: Background.- PUFAs are implicated in mood disorders: 1) Low plasma levels of omega-3 PUFAs and higher ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 PUFAs have been found among depressed patients, and our pilot study suggests these indices predict suicide attempts. 2) Double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies have found that adding omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) to standard treatment of depression improves outcomes in Major Depressive and Bipolar Disorders. 3) We find that similar brain regions have low glucose uptake among suicide attempters and in depressed patients with low fatty acids. Hypothesis: A functional imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs contributes to depression and suicidality. The objective is to clarify relationships between plasma PUFA levels, clinical characteristics, including suicide risk, and regional cerebral rates of glucose metabolism (rCMRglu) in Major Depressive Disorder. Aim1. In regions of interest (ROIs), test the following hypotheses: a) Lower rCMRglu correlates with lower plasma PUFAs in depressed subjects b). rCMRglu are lower in suicide attempters vs. non-attempters. Aim 2. Perform voxel-level analyses on rCMRglu and plasma PUFA levels in: a) Depressed subjects vs. healthy volunteers, b) Depressed subjects with and without suicide attempt history. Aim 3. Perform voxel-level analyses of effects of augmentation treatment with fish oil on rCMRglu, plasma PUFA levels, symptom severity, and the relationships between them. Aim 4. Characterize the effects offish oil on plasma PUFAs and clinical status: a) Test the hypothesis that plasma levels of DMA will be lower in depressed subjects than healthy volunteers, and lower in suicide attempters than nonattempters. b) Assess overall clinical status and severity of individual symptoms. Methods: Thirty subjects with Major Depressive Disorder (half with history of suicide attempt) not responding to treatment and 15 healthy volunteers will have quantitative PET scanning with [18F]FDG before and after adjunctive treatment for 4-6 weeks with fish oil. We will perform group comparisons of rCMRglu in ROIs and use statistical parametric mapping at the voxel level to generate difference and correlational maps. TRAINING: The candidate proposes to undertake specialized studies in neuroimaging methodologies, statistics, and lipid biochemistry. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Major Depressive Disorder and suicide are major public health problems worldwide. This study is expected to contribute to understanding the neurobiology of depression and may provide new information relevant to treatment with dietary fatty acids.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2013	2012	COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES	106 LOW LIBRARY	NEW YORK-NEW YORK	NY	10027		USA	Mental Health Research Career/Scientist Development Awards	000	5	8/9/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2012 ( Subtotal = $177,301 )
2012	2012	COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES	106 LOW Memorial LIBRARY	NEW YORK-NEW YORK	NY	10027		USA	Mental Health Research Career/Scientist Development Awards	000	5	1/9/2012	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$177,301
														Subtotal = $177,301

Issue Date FY: 2011 ( Subtotal = $177,301 )
2011	2011	COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES	106 LOW Memorial LIBRARY	NEW YORK-NEW YORK	NY	10027		USA	Mental Health Research Career/Scientist Development Awards	000	4	12/21/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$177,301
														Subtotal = $177,301

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $177,301 )
2010	2010	COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES	106 LOW Memorial LIBRARY	NEW YORK	NY	10027	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Career/Scientist Development Awards	000	3	1/6/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$177,301
														Subtotal = $177,301

Issue Date FY: 2009 ( Subtotal = $177,301 )
2009	2009	COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES	106 LOW Memorial LIBRARY	NEW YORK	NY	10027	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Career/Scientist Development Awards	000	2	1/6/2009	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$177,301
														Subtotal = $177,301

Issue Date FY: 2008 ( Subtotal = $177,301 )
2008	2008	COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES	106 LOW LIBRARY	NEW YORK-NEW YORK	NY	10027		USA	Mental Health Research Career/Scientist Development Awards	000	1	3/11/2008	NEW	$177,301
														Subtotal = $177,301

Grand Total All Awards = $886,505

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NEUROIMAGING OF FATTY ACIDS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

Award Number: K08MH079033

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2008

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 09/30/2013

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