Faith Gunning, PhD

Overview

Throughout my career, I have focused on the relationship of cerebral aging to affective and cognitive functions in middle-aged and older adults. Since joining Weill Cornell’s Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry in 2004, I have combined my background as a clinical neuropsychologist with my expertise in cognitive neuroscience to develop and conduct a program of research studies using MRI to examine neurobiological predictors of expression, course, and outcomes of depression. My studies use performance-based measures and multimodal neuroimaging (task-based fMRI, resting state fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging) to examine functioning of brain networks (e.g., cognitive control dysfunction, reward abnormalities) and treatment response.

I currently hold an NIMH-funded R01 that uses task-based fMRI and probabilistic tractography to better understand the role of cognitive control, affective networks, and reward networks in antidepressant response of late-life depression. In addition, I am using multimodal neuroimaging (task-based fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging) to better understand target engagement of neurobiologically-informed psychosocial interventions for MDD (e.g., Engage versus Problem-Solving Therapy (PST); Cognitive remediation delivered via mobile technology, Project EVO(1R61MH110509)).

As Vice Chair of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Director of the Institute's Training Unit, I play an integral role in mentoring clinical scientists at the postdoctoral fellow and junior faculty level both at Weill Cornell and through national mentoring programs.

Highlights

1
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2021
AJAbhishek Jaywant GSGeorge S Alexopoulos CBChaya B. Fridman FGFaith Gunning
PMID: 33589778PMCID: PMC7884062DOISenior author192 citations
2
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2021
LOLauren Oberlin LVLindsay Victoria GSGeorge S Alexopoulos FGFaith Gunning
PMID: 33564103PMCID: PMC8674355DOISenior author36 citations
3
Translational psychiatry · 2021
FGFaith Gunning LVLindsay Victoria
PMID: 33947831PMCID: PMC8096948DOIFirst author41 citations

Publications

141

Funding

22 View NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Active

11 grants

Sub-PI
Research Career Institute in Mental Health of Aging (CIMA)
National Institute of Mental Health · 2017–2030 · via University of Vermont· 2 renewals
R25MH112484-07
Sub-PI
A transdiagnostic study of emotional impulsivity in suicidal ideation and behavior
National Institute of Mental Health · 2024–2029 · via New York University
R01MH136161-03
Co-I
Emotion Reactivity, Cognitive Reappraisal, and Suicidal Ideation In Middle-aged and Older Adults at High Suicide Risk
National Institute of Mental Health · 2024–2029
R01MH134006-01A1
Sub-PI
JOSH-MH: Jointly Observed Scalable Hypotheses for Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health · 2024–2029 · via The General Hospital Corporation (dba Massachusetts General Hospital)
U01MH136059-02
Co-I
Target Engagement During Social Reward Psychotherapy for Mid- and Late-Life Suicidality: A Precision Imaging Trial
National Institute of Mental Health · 2023–2028
R01MH133953-01
Co-I
A Mobile Intervention for Suicide Prevention For Middle-aged And Older Adults After a Suicide-Related Hospitalization
National Institute of Mental Health · 2022–2027
R61MH128516-02
MPI
Research Fellowship in Geriatric Mood Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health · 2021–2027
T32MH019132-35
Co-I
Scalable subtyping and dynamic tracking of social disconnection in older adults
National Institute on Aging · 2025–2027 · via University of Pennsylvania
P30AG073105-05
MPI
Efficacy of biomarker-guided rTMS for treatment resistant depression
National Institute of Mental Health · 2019–2027
R01MH118388-05
Sub-PI
Remote computational phenotyping of behavioral and affective dynamics in major depression
National Institute of Mental Health · 2020–2026 · via Yale University
R01MH124110-05
Sub-PI
Nicotinic modulation of the cognitive control system in late-life depression
National Institute of Mental Health · 2022–2025 · via Vanderbilt University Medical Center
R33MH122464-05

Completed grants (11)

Sub-PI
Brain-based Mechanisms of Emotion Regulation in Aging and Mood Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health · 2020–2025 · via The Brigham & Women's Hospital INC
R01MH124381-05
Co-I
ALACRITY for Late- and Mid-Life Mood Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health · 2017–2024
P50MH113838-01
Sub-PI
Nicotinic modulation of the cognitive control system in late-life depression
National Institute of Mental Health · 2020–2023 · via Vanderbilt University Medical Center
R61MH122464-02
PI
A Computerized Intervention Targeting Cognitive Control Network Deficits in Depression
NIMH · 2016–2022 · via NIH RePORTER
R33MH110509-05
Sub-PI
Computerized Intervention Targeting Cognitive Control Network Deficits in Depression
National Institute of Mental Health · 2016–2022 · via University of Washington, The
R61MH110509-02
KP
Targeting salience network dysfunction in depression with individualized brain network mapping and TMS
National Institute of Mental Health · 2019–2022
F32MH120989-01
Co-I
Diagnostic Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Dysfunctional Valence Systems in Depression and Anxiety
National Institute of Mental Health · 2018–2019
R56MH114976-01A1
PI
White Matter and Emotional and Cognitive Control in Late-Onset Depression
National Institute of Mental Health · 2012–2019
R01MH097735-04
Sub-PI
Aiding Decision-Making and Trial Design Using Multivariate Network Meta-Analysis
National Institute of Mental Health · 2016–2018 · via University of Texas, Houston
R21MH110110-02
MPI
Effects of Maintenance Treatment with Olanzapine vs. Placebo on Brain Structure
National Institute of Mental Health · 2012–2017 · via Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
R01MH099167-04 EW
PI
ANTERIOR CINGULATE ACTIVATION IN GERIATRIC DEPRESSION
NIMH · 2005–2011 · via NIH RePORTER
K23MH074818-05

Clinical research

3

Active

1 study

PI
A Transdiagnostic Study of Emotional Impulsivity in Suicidal Ideation and Behavior
NYU Langone · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)

Completed & closed trials (2)

PI
Brain-based Mechanisms of Emotion Regulation in Aging and Mood Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
PI
Improving Cognitive Health in COVID-19 Survivors Through Digital Therapeutics
PHASE2 · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2025)
Cognitive Dysfunction; Covid19
NCT04843930

News mentions

3 View all WCM news ↗

Brain Imaging May Identify Patients Likely to Benefit from Anxiety Care App
July 31, 2025
By understanding differences in how people’s brains are wired, clinicians may be able to predict who would benefit from a self-guided anxiety care app, according to a new analysis from a clinical trial led by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App Improves Anxiety in Young Adults
August 20, 2024
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian found that a self-guided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) app, called Maya, significantly reduced anxiety in young adults struggling with mental health challenges.
Digital Domains: Apps, Video Games and Other Media are Filling Gaps in Mental Healthcare
January 14, 2020
Apps, video games and other media are filling gaps in mental healthcare

Mentoring

3 All publications with mentees →

External relationships

Advisory/Scientific Board Member

American Medical Association

Other Interest

American Medical Association