Potential SYNERGIES project received important funding boost

A study (the ‘ALIGNED’ study) led by clinician-researchers in NSW, Victoria, and Western Australia, has been given $2.95M funding by the Australian Medical Research Future Funds (MRFF) Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative in May 2020. The ALIGNED study will work with consumer advocates including people with lived experience of depression to address the gaps in evidence of depression treatment, with the ultimate goal of improving the treatment outcomes of people with depression. The study will investigate whether genetic testing for antidepressant response/metabolism prior to treatment and/or brain MRI imaging has a role in predicting treatment response, so that treatment can be tailored to each individual. By giving the right medication at the right dosage from the outset prior to treatment initiation, the clinician-researchers are hoping this approach will lead to higher response and remission rates, which will have positive repercussions translating to psychosocial benefits to people with depression. The ALIGNED study is currently in the planning stage, and is expected to be launched in the first/second quarter of 2021.