Mark Rasenick

Mark Rasenick serves as Professor of Physiology and Biophysics and Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, where he founded and directs the neuroscience program. He simultaneously holds a position as research career scientist at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.

His research focuses on:

• Neurotransmitter signaling mechanisms in mood disorders
• Development of peripheral biomarkers for depression diagnosis
• Gs alpha protein translocation from lipid rafts as depression indicator
• Scientific exchange with Cuban bioscience researchers

Rasenick's groundbreaking work has identified a membrane protein whose localization serves as a depression biomarker, enabling blood tests that assess antidepressant efficacy within days rather than weeks. His research demonstrates that when patients respond to treatment, Gs alpha protein moves out of cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in cell membranes—a change detectable in platelets which renew approximately weekly.

His scientific recognition includes:

• National Institutes of Health grants R43MH097370 and R41MH113398
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant BX00149

Through his company Pax Neuroscience, Rasenick is translating these discoveries into clinical applications. He maintains active international collaborations, particularly with Cuban researchers, making numerous scientific exchange visits. His work addresses a critical gap in primary care settings where 30% of depression cases are diagnosed without sophisticated screening tools, potentially transforming how depression treatment is monitored and optimized.

His research team includes Jeffrey Schappi, Athanasia Koutsouris, and Runa Bhaumik at UIC, with additional collaborators from Signant Health, University of Utah, and Stanford University.