Pilot Study: Establishing Glutamatergic Changes in Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine

Establishing Glutamatergic Changes as the Mechanism of Action in the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine

In the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), ketamine can produce rapid but short-lasting improvements in mood. In order to develop a new generation of treatments with rapid and sustained efficacy, a better understanding of the mechanism of action is urgently needed. One candidate mechanism is the modulation of synaptic strength mediated by glutamatergic activity as ketamine has been suggested to increase synaptic strength. Although determining how ketamine impacts the glutamatergic system is essential to isolating its mechanism of action, the invasive nature of most assessment methods has limited our ability to do so in humans. The proposed research aims to determine if changes in glutamatergic activity, reflecting the modulation of synaptic strength, underlie the antidepressant effects of ketamine. In this project, the investigators will utilize a novel measure of glutamate imaging, GluCEST, to assess changes in glutamatergic activity to assess synaptic strength following ketamine administration. Ten individuals (aged 25-65) with a DSM-V diagnosis of MDD will undergo baseline GluCEST imaging prior to and following ketamine infusion. Both clinician-administered and subjective mood measures will be collected. It is predicted that ketamine will improve mood and increase glutamatergic activity and synaptic strength. Results from this project have the potential to identify the modifiable mechanisms by which rapid antidepressants work which could ultimately stimulate the development of novel interventions that work through the modulation of glutamatergic activity.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ketamine only

Detailed Description

Consent and Virtual Screening: Participants who meet initial inclusion criteria via phone screen will be invited to the complete a virtual visit that will include additional screening (e.g. Medical history), Structured Clinical Interview for DSMV (SCID) and clinician-administered measures of mood to determine final study eligibility. At the outset of this visit, all participants will receive verbal and written explanation of the general goals and risks of the study and will virtually sign an informed consent.

The results of the SCID will be used to characterize the study population and to determine whether they meet criteria for any diagnoses that would preclude participation (e.g. psychotic disorders). Their medical history will be reviewed by a study staff member to ensure that patients are diagnostically eligible.

At-home Sleep Recording: Following enrollment participants will complete a 7-day at-home sleep diary to assess sleep patterns prior to ketamine infusion. Sleep diaries will be completed either online via REDCap or with paper forms, based on participant preference and internet access.

In-laboratory Ketamine Infusion Protocol: On the study day, participants will arrive at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania at 9:00 AM. After initial orientation, they will undergo a baseline MRI scan between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The MRI will utilize a 7T Siemens Terra system for high-resolution GluCEST imaging to capture glutamatergic activity. Following the scan, participants will complete baseline mood assessments, including the HAM-D, PANAS, VAS, and POMS scales. A light snack will be provided before the ketamine infusion begins between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM. Participants will receive a 40-minute infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) under the supervision of a registered nurse and anesthesiologist. Continuous monitoring of vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels) will be performed throughout the infusion. If adverse symptoms arise, the infusion may be paused or stopped at the discretion of the study physician. Following the infusion, participants will be observed for 1 hour to ensure stable vitals and recovery. Mood assessments will be repeated after the infusion to measure changes in emotional state. A second MRI scan will be conducted between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to assess changes in glutamatergic activity post-infusion. After completing the scan and final assessments, participants will be discharged.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 10
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Holly Barilla, MS; Email: hbarilla@upenn.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Jennifer R Goldschmied, PhD; Phone Number: 215-573-2774; Email: jrgolds2@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • Recruiting
      • University of Pennsylvania
      • Contact: Jennifer Goldschmied, PhD; Phone Number: 215-573-2774; Email: Jrgolds2@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Jennifer Goldschmied, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age between 25 and 65 years;
2. Current depression as assessed on the SCID;
3. Treatment-resistant depression, as defined by failure of at least two previous antidepressant or mood stabilizing treatments within the current depressive episode. Failed antidepressant or mood stabilizing treatments can include pharmacotherapy for depression at an adequate dose for at least 8 weeks
4. Able to comprehend English, as all questionnaires are in this language
5. Ability to provide informed consent Ability to pass a comprehension assessment test related to effects of ketamine and trial objectives and criteria.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. A sleep disorder other than insomnia, as determined by history;
2. History of bipolar disorder, delirium, dementia, amnestic disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders as assessed on the SCID;
3. Alcohol or drug abuse in the past year based upon the SCID or urine toxicology screen;
4. A current smoker;

4) Any significant medical or neurological illness that impacts brain function or impedes participation; 5) History of head trauma with significant loss of consciousness; 6) Metallic implants, pacemakers or tattoos, or other contraindications to MRI; Claustrophobic, or intolerant of the scanner environment; 7) For women, pregnancy will exclude participation. 8) Untreated hypertension

Based on ketamine's known difficulties with induction of perceptual/psychomimetic symptoms, exclusion criteria for this study are as follows:

1. Patients with a BMI over 40.
2. Ongoing prescription of 4 mg lorazepam equivalents (total) daily, or morning dosing of any benzodiazepine at the time of assessment;
3. Currently undergoing ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagal nerve stimulation, or deep brain stimulation as either an acute or maintenance treatment of depression;
4. Use of any MAOI is prohibited two weeks prior to administration of study drug; if patients are on an MAOI when enrolled, study drug will not be administered until two weeks off MAOI;
5. CYP3A4 inducers carbamazepine and modafinil are prohibited two weeks prior to administration of study drug and at least 24 hours after last dose of study drug.
6. Current use of Naltrexone;
7. Developmental delay, mental retardation, or intellectual disorder;
8. Clinical or self-reported diagnosis of delirium, encephalopathy, or related clinical diagnosis within the prior 12 months;
9. Prior participation in another study of ketamine for depression
10. Prior treatment and/or recreational use of ketamine

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Major Depressive Disorder	Drug: Ketamine only; The primary study intervention involves the administration of intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) over a 40-minute infusion. Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has shown rapid antidepressant effects in individuals with treatment-resistant depression.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
GluCEST imaging metrics	relative change in glutamate concentration (% baseline)	From pre to post-ketamine infusion (2 imaging sessions over a 9-hour span)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale	Assessment of severity and change in depressive symptoms, from 0-52, with 52 indicating most severe	From pre to post-ketamine infusion (2 evaluations over a 9-hour span)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jennifer R Goldschmied, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): January 23, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 16, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Mood Disorders; Depressive Disorder; Depressive Disorder, Major; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Anesthetics; Central Nervous System Depressants; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics; Neurotransmitter Agents; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Anesthetics, General; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Anesthetics, Dissociative; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Ketamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 857228

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No