Depression Research at a Crossroads: From Animal Models to Human-Relevant and Preventive Science

The next CAAT 3Rs Training Webinar will take place on Thursday, July 2nd at 1:00 pm EST / 7:00 pm CET. Dr. Kathrin Herrmann will welcome two experts for a critical conversation on the future of depression research. Depressive disorders are among the leading causes of global disease burden, yet their underlying mechanisms remain only partially understood, and current treatments are often insufficient. Around 30% of patients do not respond to available therapies, highlighting a critical gap in both our scientific understanding and our approach to mental health. Increasingly, this has led to calls for a shift—not only in how we treat depression, but in how we study and prevent it.This webinar brings together two leading experts to examine depression research at a pivotal moment of transition—from a model focused on late-stage treatment and animal-based experimentation toward one centered on human relevance, prevention, and real-world complexity. Dr. Constança Carvalho will open the session with a critical evaluation of animal models in depression research. Drawing on her work in clinical psychology and translational science, she will examine the limited contribution of animal studies to our understanding of major depressive disorder, including the widespread use of controversial procedures such as the forced swim test. Her analysis challenges the assumption that animal models are a necessary component of psychiatric research and raises both scientific and ethical concerns about their continued use. Building on this critique, Dr. Sandra Coecke will present a forward-looking, prevention-oriented framework for understanding depression. Her talk introduces the concept of the “environome,” highlighting how interacting environmental, social, and biological factors across the life course shape vulnerability and resilience. Drawing on large-scale European initiatives such as the Decoding Depression project, she will demonstrate how transdisciplinary, human-relevant approaches—and tools like the Interactive Depression Dashboard—can support earlier intervention, crisis preparedness, and evidence-based policy. Together, these perspectives move beyond a narrow focus on disease mechanisms toward a more integrated vision of mental health—one that prioritizes prevention, addresses root causes, and aligns research with the complexity of human lives.The session will conclude with a moderated discussion and audience Q&A, inviting participants to reflect on what it will take—scientifically, ethically, and institutionally—to transform depression research for the future.