The Center for Neuroscience-based Mental Health Assessment and Prediction (NeuroMAP)

PROJECT SUMMARY: Overall Mood and Anxiety Disorders are the most prevalent and disabling mental health conditions worldwide, yet there are limited explanatory and predictive disease models available for these conditions. The theme of the Neuroscience-based Mental Health Assessment and Prediction (NeuroMAP) CoBRE is based on the premise that experimental designs that use transdiagnostic approaches (i.e., processes that cut across disease categories) with multiple levels of analyses (symptoms & behavior, circuits & physiology, cells & molecules) can identify disease modifying processes that can become targets of interventions. Phase I of NeuroMAP recruited 8 RPLs and 8 PPIs. As of 6/2022, they applied for 99 extramural grants, received 8 federal grants, and published 130 papers linked to the P20. Two underrepresented minority investigators using NeuroMAP Core data received prestigious Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) K99/R00 awards. Prior to the NeuroMAP CoBRE (funded 9/15/2017) the annual NIH funding for LIBR was $662,104 (NIH Reporter accessed 6/17/2022), for 2021/22 the annual funding is $7,555,510 ($5,368,214 without the CoBRE), which is a 11.4 (8.1)-fold increase. The goal for Phase II of the NeuroMAP is to maintain and expand the infrastructure for RPLs. The Specific Aims of NeuroMAP are: (1) To expand the critical mass of investigators that are focused on Neuroscience-based Mental Health Assessment and Prediction approaches to mood and anxiety disorders. (2) To provide an operational infrastructure that provides the tools necessary to conduct research projects, standardize assessments, and provide a data repository for future pilot projects. (3) To provide a mentoring and career development infrastructure to junior investigators to conduct studies focused on targetable, disease modifying processes in mood or anxiety disorders. NeuroMAP will consists of: (a) an Administrative Core (Paulus); a Recruitment and Assessment Core (Aupperle & Khalsa), a Circuit and Molecules Core (Rohan & Savitz), and a Data Management and Statistics Core (Kuplicki & Thompson). There are three proposed projects: (1) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Threat Sensitivity target (Ironside) - External Mentor: Monique Ernst, NIMH; Internal Mentor: Robin Aupperle, LIBR. (2) The effects of aversive interoceptive states on the computations and associated neural basis of avoidance behavior (Smith) - External Mentor: Philip Corlett, Yale University; Internal Mentor: Jennifer Stewart, LIBR. (3) Modulating repetitive negative thinking related brain networks in young adults with depression (Tsuchiyagaito) - External Mentor: Kate Fitzgerald, University of Michigan; Internal Mentor: Jonathan Savitz, LIBR. The goal of Phase II is to expand research in mood and anxiety disorders, build a bigger base of funded investigators, and to attract more young talent to delineate the processes that contribute to individuals developing, recovering from, and relapsing to mood and anxiety disorders.