Novel Study Will Monitor Brain Activity, Daily Function in People with Borderline Personality Disorder

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A collaborative research initiative between Boehringer Ingelheim, the University of Oxford, and Cumulus Neuroscience has launched a first-of-its-kind study to objectively measure brain activity, mood, and behavior in individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The study will use wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) technology and digital cognitive assessments to collect real-world, high-frequency data from participants in both clinical and home settings.

The trial aims to address limitations in current psychiatric research methodologies, which often rely on retrospective self-report and clinical observation, providing only episodic and subjective insights into patients' experiences. Investigators will use Cumulus Neuroscience’s NeuLogiq® neuroassessment platform to capture synchronized EEG recordings and behavioral task performance via gamified tablet-based applications.

“People diagnosed with [BPD] experience a range of symptoms, including changeable mood, impulsivity, and associated difficulties in interpersonal relationships, all of which can have a significant impact on their lives,” Kate Saunders, DPhil, associate professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, said in a press release. “We're looking forward to exploring this new technology in people living with BPD…to gain new insights into the mechanisms which underpin the symptoms people given this diagnosis experience. This could open up pathways for the development of new therapies.”

The study will be conducted at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford and will enroll 30 adults aged 18 to 35 years with a diagnosis of BPD and 20 healthy controls. Data collected will include EEG, cognitive assessments, and remotely captured mood and activity metrics. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the NeuLogiq platform in this population and to generate a detailed dataset for future analysis.

The collaboration is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s larger commitment to "Precision Psychiatry," a research approach focused on the neurobiology of individual symptoms to support the development of more targeted psychiatric treatments.

“If this platform is successfully validated in this patient population, it could be a game-changer for studies investigating novel precision psychiatry treatments,” Hugh Marston, PhD, senior vice president, Neuroscience & Mental Health, Boehringer Ingelheim, said in the press release. “It could help us identify biomarkers for stratification and provide a rich dataset for reverse-translation.”

Brian Murphy, PhD, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Cumulus Neuroscience, added: “Many psychiatric conditions disrupt cognitive function, meaning that patients may find it harder to manage their daily life or continue to work effectively. These underappreciated symptoms can change from day to day, so frequent real-world measurement is important if we want to find new therapies that improve activities of daily living and quality of life."

The research team will prioritize patient-centered study design, with regular assessments of affective dysregulation—a hallmark feature of BPD—alongside brain and behavioral data. “We hope to better capture patient experience and use objective measures to understand more about what is happening at those key moments,” Lauren Atkinson, DPhil, senior researcher on the study, said in the press release.

The study is now underway, with results expected to inform future therapeutic development for BPD and potentially broader psychiatric populations.

Reference: Breaking new ground in mental health research: Oxford University, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Cumulus Neuroscience launch first of its kind study investigating the day-to-day experience of patients with psychiatric disorders. News release. Boehringer Ingelheim. April 29, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/04/29/3070090/0/en/Breaking-new-ground-in-mental-health-research-Oxford-University-Boehringer-Ingelheim-and-Cumulus-Neuroscience-launch-first-of-its-kind-study-investigating-the-day-to-day-experience.html