Immunometabolic depression (IMD) model is a proposed biotype of depression in which clustering of atypical, energy-related symptoms, systemic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysregulations such as obesity. This group of patients is likely at higher risk of developing comorbid cardiometabolic disease and may benefit from treatments targeting immune and/or metabolic systems. In our research group, we study IMD in both epidemiological and experimental studies, focusing on untangling etiological pathways and characterization of IMD and personalized treatment.

In epidemiological databases such as NESDA and UKBB we study the bio-clinical features of depression related to immuno-metabolic dysregulations while in the InflaMED RCT we study the add-on effects of celecoxib on IMD. We are involved in international consortia, such as ASPIRE, a Wellcome Trust funded research consortium investigating advanced stratification of people with depression based on inflammation, and ImmunoMind, funded by UK Research and Innovation, investigating the role of immuno-metabolic pathways in severe mental illnesses.

Team members

dr. ir. Femke Lamers Principal Investigator
dr. Yuri Milaneschi Principal Investigator
prof. dr. Brenda Penninx Professor
dr. Rick Jansen Senior researcher
Joël Zwiep PhD student
Sarah Vreijling PhD student
Anastasia Goula PhD student