A new Israeli-developed blood test may soon change how doctors treat major depressive disorder, offering hope to millions who currently endure a long trial-and-error process with antidepressants.
The Challenge of Treating Depression
Depression affects more than 330 million people worldwide and is one of the most common mental health conditions. Standard treatment often involves trying multiple antidepressants before finding the right one—a process that can take a year or more. Many patients cycle through different medications and dosages, leaving them vulnerable to prolonged symptoms and side effects.
“For far too long, patients with clinical depression have endured a grueling trial-and-error process,” said Dr. Talia Cohen Solal, co-founder of NeuroKaire, the Israeli health tech company behind the test. “We’re working to reduce that process from 12–18 months to just two.”
How the Test Works
NeuroKaire’s test, called BrightKaire, uses a simple blood draw. Scientists convert the blood cells into neurons in the lab—essentially creating a “mini-brain in a dish.” Those neurons are then exposed to more than 70 different antidepressants. Using artificial intelligence and genetic data, the test measures how well each medication improves neural connectivity, a key marker linked to depression.
The results provide doctors with a personalized report predicting which drugs are most likely to be effective and which may cause side effects.
Early Promise, Ongoing Research
The test recently became available to physicians and patients in both Israel and the United States, at a cost of about $1,000. Some private insurers and Medicare Part B may cover it.
While BrightKaire has received regulatory approval as a laboratory-developed test in the U.S., experts stress that more research is needed.
“NeuroKaire’s approach is exciting, but it’s still early days,” said Prof. Mark Weiser, head of psychiatry at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, which helped test the technology. “Large-scale clinical trials will be essential to confirm its effectiveness compared with standard treatment.”
Building on Years of Research
Cohen Solal and her co-founder, Dr. Daphna Laifenfeld, both neuroscientists with decades of experience in brain research and personalized medicine, launched NeuroKaire in 2018. Their mission was to bring precision medicine to mental health, a field where treatment has long relied on general guidelines rather than individualized data.
Since then, the company has collaborated with hospitals in Israel and the U.S., including Sheba Medical Center, Geha Mental Health Center, Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, and the National Institute of Mental Health.
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