Receive an infusion of a medication while undergoing brain imaging scans

What is this trial?

This research trial is testing , a medication that has shown promise in helping people with depression that hasn't responded to other treatments. The study focuses on whether works especially well for people who have family members with alcohol use disorder. Researchers will use brain imaging to understand how the medication affects the brain.

Standard antidepressant medications don't work for everyone, leaving some people struggling with severe depression. Early research suggests this medication may work faster and better than traditional options, especially for certain people—and this trial aims to confirm that finding and understand why.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 55 years old
you have been diagnosed with major depression that has lasted at least 2 weeks and hasn't improved with at least one previous antidepressant medication
you are not currently taking any psychiatric medications (and are willing to stop them at least 2 weeks before treatment)
you have moderate to severe depression symptoms at the time of enrollment
you either have a close family member with alcohol use disorder, or you don't (the study is comparing these two groups)

You likely don't qualify if…

you are currently using drugs or alcohol (other than caffeine or nicotine)
you have a history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder
you are pregnant, nursing, or not using contraception
you have serious medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or active cancer
you have had seizures without a clear cause or a significant head injury

What participation looks like

The study has two phases. First, you'll stop any psychiatric medications and remain medication-free for at least 2 weeks. Then, you'll receive a single infusion of the medication through an IV over 40 minutes while lying in a specialized brain imaging machine. Researchers will monitor your symptoms and use the brain scans to see how the medication affects your brain activity and whether it improves your depression.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 2, 2026 · Not medical advice

Key details

Phase

Testing effectiveness

Sponsor

Mark Niciu

Collaborators

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Enrollment target

~60 participants

Started

April 2014

Primary completion

September 2028

Age range

18 Years – 55 Years

Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in May 2026.

Contact the research team directly

Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.

Central contact

Osura R Amarajeewa, M.B.B.S.

University of Iowa Health Care (UIHC)

Interested in joining?

Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.

Testing a medication for depression in people with family history of alcohol use

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)