We are happy to announce that senior researcher Anjali Sankar has been granted 3.818.232 DKK from DFF for a 3-year (Aug 1, 2026 - July 31, 2029) research project entitled 'Serotonin 4 Receptor Agonism and Neuroplasticity: A Novel Approach to Cognitive and Antidepressant Treatment in Major Depression'.
Project summary: Depression is a leading cause of disability, and SSRIs often take several weeks to act and fail to address cognitive symptoms, which are key to recovery. This study builds on two key findings: (1) hippocampal neuroplasticity is a core mechanism underlying improvements in both cognition and mood, and (2) stimulation of the serotonin 4 receptor (5-HT₄R) yields rapid pro-cognitive and antidepressants effects. We will investigate whether prucalopride, a 5-HT₄R agonist, when combined with SSRI treatment, enhances neuroplasticity more quickly than SSRIs alone in patients, and whether these changes are linked to improvements in cognition, mood, and underlying brain network function. As impairments in neuroplasticity and cognition are linked to elevated suicide risk, we will also explore whether their enhancement corresponds to reductions in suicidal ideation. The study advances mechanistic understanding of treatment effects and represents a meaningful step toward precision psychiatry.