Founded by Southampton philanthropist Audrey Gruss in 2006, the Hope for Depression Research Foundation works to support cutting-edge neuroscience research to better understand the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression. A national public health crisis in the United States and the leading cause of disability worldwide, depression affects 5 percent of the adult global population, according to the World Health Organization. In response to these alarming statistics, HDRF formed the Depression Task Force in 2010, bringing together nine leading neuroscientists from a number of universities to conduct fundamental research into the underlying biology of depression and discover impactful treatments. This team has discovered several potential new targets for treatment in the brain, and a clinical trial of a novel category of antidepressant is underway at Columbia University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, with several other trials in the pipeline.
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HDRF also works diligently to end the stigma around depression, which can discourage patients from seeking help and negatively impact treatment outcomes. By educating the public and pushing leaders to develop more resources for people suffering from depression, HDRF elevates the national conversation around depression and mental illness. At a time when federal funds are shrinking and major drug companies are withdrawing from brain research, HDRF steps in to advocate for those who need it most.