Katherine L. Wisner, MD, MS, was notified that Northwestern University will receive funding for her NICHD U54 Center grant “Optimizing Medication Management for Mothers with Depression (OPTI-MOM).”  Northwestern will be one of three Obstetric Fetal Pharmacology Research Centers, with the other sites being University of Pittsburgh and University of Texas Medical Branch/Galvestion.  Dr. Wisner will serve as the PI on this grant along with obstetrician Catherine S. Stika, MD and pharmacology Chair Alfred L. George, MD. The overarching goal of this study is to develop evidence to construct guidelines for the optimal use of SSRI antidepressants in pregnant women. The team will monitor changes in plasma SSRI and metabolite concentrations across pregnancy and postpartum in conjunction with measurement of depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as side effects.  The impact of genetic factors on individual differences in antidepressant dose requirements, plasma concentrations, and adverse effects in the newborn will be evaluated.