Approved Research

Immune System Activity and Depression: A Within-Subject Network Analysis

Lay summary

Our research aims to uncover the connection between the immune system and depression. Depression is a widespread mental health concern, and understanding how the immune system influences it can lead to better treatments and outcomes for people.

We will use data from the UK Biobank to look at two things: how the immune system and depression symptoms are related at a single moment in time and how changes in the immune system might affect depression symptoms over time. We will use novel statistical methods to do this.

The project will take about 12 months to complete. It has a significant impact on public health because it can help us find ways to diagnose and treat depression more effectively. This is important because depression affects many people, and better treatments can improve their lives.