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Recruiting NCT06080646

NCT06080646 Reward Processing and Depressive Subtypes: Identifying Neural Biotypes

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06080646
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Condition Depression
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment 150 participants
Start Date 2021-06-01
Primary Completion 2025-06-01

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 70 Years
Study Type OBSERVATIONAL
Interventions
cross-sectional MRI and EEG assessments (NO INTERVENTION)

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.

This trial targets 150 participants in total. It began in 2021-06-01 with a primary completion date of 2025-06-01.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Deficits in motivation and pleasure are common in depression, and thought to be caused by alterations in the ways in which the brain anticipates, evaluates, and adaptively uses reward-related information. However, reward processing is a complex, multi-circuit phenomenon, and the precise neural mechanisms that contribute to the absence or reduction of pleasure and motivation are not well understood. Variation in the clinical presentation of depression has long been a rule rather than an exception, including individual variation in symptoms, severity, and treatment response. This heterogeneity complicates understanding of depression and thwarts progress toward disease classification and treatment planning. Discovery of depression-specific biomarkers that account for neurobiological variation that presumably underlies distinct clinical manifestations is critical to this larger effort.

Eligibility Criteria

* Our studies require some in-person visits to our research lab, located at 42nd Ave and Clement St in San Francisco. * Because this study includes an MRI, part of the screening process will be to ensure you don't have any metal in your body, you do not have head or neck tattoos, and you are comfortable inside the MRI scanner. Inclusion Criteria: * 18-70 years with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) for MDD group, or without for unaffected comparison (UC) group * Negative metal screen for MRI safety * Normal (or corrected to normal) vision Exclusion Criteria: * Past or present neurological problems (including seizures and head trauma resulting in neurological or cognitive symptoms) * Loss of consciousness (LOC) greater than 30 minutes or any LOC with neurologic symptoms * Major medical conditions (e.g., seizure disorders, treatment with anticonvulsant medication, endocrine disorders, significant cardiac pathology) * Substance dependence, within the past year, or failed urine toxicology on the day of neuroimaging sessions * Known claustrophobia * Current Pregnancy * IQ estimate \< 70

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Jason Hemmerle, MBA

✉ jason.hemmerle@ucsf.edu

📞 415 221 4810

Principal Investigator

Susanna L Fryer, PhD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Francisco

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06080646 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 70 Years, studying Depression. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT06080646 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06080646 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at jason.hemmerle@ucsf.edu for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06080646 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at San Francisco, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06080646 clinical trial?

NCT06080646 is sponsored by San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The principal investigator is Susanna L Fryer, PhD at University of California, San Francisco. The trial plans to enroll 150 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: April 2026  ·  Data Methodology