The Foundation for OCD Research has awarded a Seed Grant to the research group of Ingo Willuhn. They will receive $800,000 over four years for exploring neural mechanisms of deep-brain stimulation in a mouse model for OCD.
Deep-brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective therapy for otherwise treatment-resistant OCD patients. However, optimizing DBS parameters requires months and its neural mechanism of action is largely unknown. “To improve DBS therapy, we will use SAPAP3 mutant mice, a model system that captures key elements of OCD. We aim to characterize the effects of DBS on compulsive behavior and neural activity in OCD-relevant brain circuits in these mice” explains Ingo Willuhn.
FFOR
FFOR’s strategy is designed with the intention to deliver a “functional” cure for OCD. To do that, FFOR is pursuing multiple projects across multiple disciplines simultaneously: Genetics, Neuroscience, and Therapeutics.