Funding The Best Minds.
To Heal Minds.
Depression affects 20 million U.S. Americans regardless
of age, gender, race, religion or socio-economic level.
Half don’t respond to treatment.
You can help change that.
Why We Can't Wait
Cause of Disability
Worldwide
Depression affects 350
million globally every year.
Do not respond to the available common medications.
Millions are left without options.
of U.S. High School Students
Report persistent sadness
or hopelessness
The Science of Hope
How far has science come in depression research?
The Scale of the Depression Crisis
- #1 cause of disability worldwide
- #1 cause of suicide deaths every 11 minutes in U.S.
- Second leading cause of death among young people in U.S. ages 10–24
- The pandemic has accelerated this crisis in global mental health
The Problem
- All common antidepressants are based on 50-year-old formulas involving serotonin
- Only 50% respond to the conventional serotonin-based formulas
- There is no physical diagnosis for depression – no brain scan or blood test
Our Solution
Our Scientists Collaborate, So Breakthroughs Accelerate.
In science, brilliant researchers traditionally work in isolated silos. Discoveries take years before they are published and can impact the real world.
Our collaborative approach is getting results.
Our Solution
World-renowned neuroscientists from leading institutions working together as a single unit on a shared research roadmap.
The Result
- Creating an infrastructure for unprecedented team science
- Constant sharing of data across international laboratories via our Data Center
- Treatment targets in the brain that nobody had identified ten years ago
- Pilot clinical trials underway at Mount Sinai, Columbia, Cornell, and Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry.
Our 4-Step
Research Roadmap:
Discovery
20 New Gene
Targets Identified
Out of the human body’s 20,000 genes, we’ve pinpointed 20 gene targets that can potentially lead to novel treatments. Each has been validated in both animal models and human brain tissue.
Clinical Results
80% Remission Rates
Early human trials of new approaches are showing remarkable results for treatment-resistant depression.
Breakthrough
Potential Blood Test
for Depression
HDRF-funded research has discovered biomarkers that could transform diagnosis from subjective to objective.
Since 2006:
- An outstanding publication record in top tier journals
- Guiding the field at large with a new framework for depression research
- Training the next generation of leaders in stress and depression research
- Several potential new categories of antidepressant in pilot clinical trials
100% of your donation goes directly to breakthrough research. Every gift spurs discovery and accelerates the next generation of depression treatments.
If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available today. 988: Suicide Prevention Lifeline • Text HOME to 741741
The Hope for Depression Research Foundation is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a not-for-profit public charity (Tax ID 20-4559210), contributions to which are deductible for income and gift tax purposes. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.