Project description
Understanding the gut microbiome’s link to depression
Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. Unfortunately, the mechanisms are still poorly understood, and reliable biomarkers are absent. The gut microbiome influences brain function and has been linked to depression. Still, most studies are cross-sectional and do not clarify their relationship with depression onset. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BIOME-GRID project will identify gut microbiome signatures that predict future depression and study their interactions with genetic risk and immunometabolic processes. It will analyse microbiome, multiomic and health data from the Estonian Microbiome Cohort and validate the findings in Swedish cohorts. The project will enhance our understanding of the microbiome’s role in depression and contribute to early detection and intervention for mental health disorders.
Objective
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, yet its pathophysiology remains poorly understood and predictive biomarkers are lacking. The gut microbiome—a key modulator of metabolic and immune functions—has emerged as an important contributor to brain function and mental health. While several studies report gut microbiome alterations in depression, most are cross-sectional, leaving uncertainty about its temporal relationship with depression onset. Moreover, it remains unknown whether the microbiome interacts with genetic predisposition to influence depression risk, or contributes to depression-related immuno-metabolic dysfunction. BIOME-GRID aims to identify gut microbiome features predictive of future depression and assess their interplay with host genetic liability and immuno-metabolic processes. This will be achieved through computational analysis of metagenomic, genetic, electronic health record, questionnaire and multiomic data from the prospective, population-based Estonian Microbiome Cohort, which uniquely enables the study of the microbiome before depression diagnosis and treatment. Time-to-event prediction modelling will be used to identify microbiome signatures linked to depression onset and assess their additive and interactive effects with genetic risk. Associations with host immuno-metabolic markers and risk factors, and depression symptom clusters will be examined. Findings will be validated in two Swedish cohorts. This fellowship will enhance expertise in metagenomic and multiomic data analysis, while fostering collaboration between Estonian and Swedish groups. Directly relevant to the Horizon Europe Health priority Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden, by providing insights into gut microbiome’s role in depression pathophysiology, BIOME-GRID contributes to improved understanding of mental health disorders and ultimately supports the development of novel, microbiome-informed early detection, prevention, and intervention strategies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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51005 Tartu
Estonia
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