Howard University 1 article published in JoVE Neuroscience Olfactory Neurons Obtained through Nasal Biopsy Combined with Laser-Capture Microdissection: A Potential Approach to Study Treatment Response in Mental Disorders Soumya Narayan1, Charlee McLean2, Akira Sawa1, Sandra Y. Lin3, Narayan Rai2, MariaMananita S. Hipolito2, Nicola Cascella4, John J.I. Nurnberger, Jr.5, Koko Ishizuka1, Evaristus A. Nwulia2 1Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, 2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University, 3Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, 4Department of Psychiatry, Sheppard Pratt Hospital, 5Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University In this study, a novel platform to investigate intraneuronal molecular signatures of treatment response in bipolar disorder (BD) was developed and validated. Olfactory epithelium from BD patients was obtained through nasal biopsies. Then laser-capture microdissection was combined with Real Time RT PCR to investigate the molecular signature of lithium response in BD.