Integrative Omics and Neuroimaging in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An Artificial Intelligence-Driven Approach

Research project description

A PhD position is available at the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau under the supervision of Marta Cano (neuroimaging researcher) and Eva Armengol (AI researcher). The successful candidate will be enrolled in the Psychiatry doctoral programme at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in the framework of the TOUCH project. TOUCH (“Towards the next generatiOn of excellent yoUng doctoral researchers on mental health by developing an intersectoral & transdisciplinary approaCH”) is a new excellent doctoral programme co-funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Actions of the European Commission and led by the UAB for the recruitment and training of 24 doctoral candidates in the field of mental health and wellbeing.

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) demands innovative therapeutic approaches. Our 3-year PhD project aims to decode the neurobiological mechanisms underlying treatment response in patients with depression unresponsive to conventional strategies, focusing on novel therapies such as neuromodulation, cognitive remediation, esketamine, and psilocybin. By integrating advanced neuroimaging and biochemical assessments, we will delve into brain and peripheral system changes linked to these newly developed treatment modalities.

Objective 1: Employ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to capture neural circuitry changes in patients with TRD undergoing various innovative and promising treatments. Identify distinct neural signatures associated with positive treatment responses.

Objective 2: Combine profiles of biochemical markers indicative of treatment efficacy, including neurotrophic factors, inflammatory markers, and metabolic indicators, to holistically understand treatment response. From the achievement of objectives 1 and 2 above, we will have available a database putting together biological information about a patient (omics and neuroimaging), as well as treatment response and other clinical variables. Such a database will serve as the basis for the next objective.

Objective 3: To use artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to identify neuroimaging patterns and predictive omics, enhancing our understanding of treatment mechanisms and facilitating personalized interventions. Particularly, machine learning algorithms support the extraction of patterns that can predict the efficacy of a treatment according to the characteristics of a particular patient.

In conclusion, this transformative PhD program integrates neuroimaging, omics profiling, and AI to decode treatment response in depression. Our transdisciplinary approach holds immense promise for revolutionizing mental health care, advancing precision psychiatry, and improving patient outcomes.

Academic background / Skills

The candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria from the EC: Mobility rule: candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding the deadline for the programme call. Experience rule: researchers must be doctoral candidates at the date of recruitment, that is not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the open calls. Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet formally awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible. Candidates must hold a degree that allows admission to the official doctoral programme at UAB.

The ideal candidate for this PhD program should possess some foundation in mental health and meet the academic requirements for the PhD in Psychiatry at the UAB, including holding a Master’s degree and a good level of speaking and writing in English.

Interest in and prior knowledge of MRI and biochemical assays are advisable, although training will be offered.

Familiarity with statistical methods and/or programming languages (e.g., Python, R, STATA, and SPSS) is preferable.

The candidate should demonstrate a keen interest in psychiatric disorders, treatment mechanisms, and innovative therapeutic modalities.

Strong communication and collaboration skills are essential, as the project involves transdisciplinary teamwork.

Prior experience with AI analytics is advantageous but not mandatory, as training will be provided.

The candidate should exhibit a commitment to advancing mental health research and a capacity for independent, creative thinking within a collaborative research environment

Research group/s description

The Sant Pau Mental Health Group, part of the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau’s Neurological Diseases, Neuroscience & Mental Health division, is resolutely dedicated to the pursuit of innovative therapeutic modalities, underpinned by a comprehensive understanding of etiopathogenesis, derived from their accrued knowledge. Main scientific challenges: research that reduces the healthcare, social and personal costs of mental illness by exploring areas such as etiopathogenesis, physiopathology, and treatment; that delve into innovative mental health therapies; and to improve quality of life of patients with mental disorders.

The AI Research Institute (IIIA) research theme on AI and healthcare aims at applying some of the IIIA techniques to the field of healthcare. Specifically, it is focused on the design of novel algorithms to provide solutions able to incorporate advanced Descriptive, Diagnostic, Predictive, and Prescriptive capabilities to Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS).