05.01.2026 Marburg research project “MindShift” receives Hessian funding
Computational Psychiatry Working Group (Prof. Jamalabadi): Marburg research project ‘MindShift’ receives €871,142.00 in funding
The Computational Psychiatry Working Group, under the supervision of Professor Jamalabadi, is a body of researchers specialising in the field of psychiatry and psychology. The Marburg research project entitled 'MindShift' will receive approximately €871,000 over a period of 24 months from the Hessian funding programme Distr@l 4A. The project is being led by Prof. Dr. Hamidreza Jamalabadi of the Computational Psychiatry Working Group at Philipps University of Marburg. The objective of the present project, which will receive funding from January 2026, is twofold: firstly, to develop and validate personalised, AI-supported neurostimulation approaches for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders; and secondly, to assess the efficacy of these approaches.
The project is based at the Psychiatric Control Lab of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Faculty of Medicine). Professor Jamalabadi is the project spokesperson and overall director. The interdisciplinary project team is comprised of a total of seven individuals: Dr. Felix Bernhard has been assigned the role of co-project manager, with responsibility for neurostimulation. Alina Buschhüter has been designated as the clinical manager and study coordinator. Marco Rothermel, Dr. Sarah Alizadeh, Svenja Julia Francke and Bita Shariatpanahi have been assigned responsibility for the development of artificial intelligence, the software infrastructure and experimental implementation.
The project is also supported by Timo Becker, who assists the team in particular with translational, communicative and strategic aspects.
MindShift is predicated on a series of recent scientific publications from the Computational Psychiatry working group, which examine the interface between neuroscience, mental health, artificial intelligence and engineering. The primary focus of this research is dynamic systems and control theory approaches that allow affective-cognitive brain states to be formally modelled and specifically modified. The project's objective is to develop hardware-independent optimisation methods for neurostimulative treatments that can control existing stimulation devices individually and adaptively.
Professor Hamidreza Jamalabadi expressed his delight at the funding, stating that it would enable the scaling up of the technology in a targeted manner, bringing it closer to social and market-oriented applications. MindShift is instrumental in establishing the requisite framework for the comprehensive validation of scientific approaches, thereby establishing a foundation that facilitates external investment. This will enable the subsequent progression to the implementation of clinically applicable applications for those in dire need."
It is imperative to acknowledge the significant implications of this project for Marburg and the neuroscientific and psychiatric research community that has developed here. The project's close alignment with existing initiatives in terms of content is a crucial factor, as it facilitates consistent translational development with a discernible social impact.
Prior to the allocation of funding, the project was recognised for its innovation and transfer potential, as evidenced by its first-place ranking in the Hessen Ideas Competition 2025.
In terms of content, MindShift is closely embedded in the current research structures of the University of Marburg. The present project is directly related to the recently approved Cluster of Excellence 'The Adaptive Mind' (EC-3066) and the DFG Collaborative Research Centre CRC/TRR 393 'Trajectories of Affective Disorders'. In both cases, Professor Jamalabadi is the principal investigator (PI). These networks establish an integrative research environment that systematically combines basic research, clinical psychiatry and modern AI methods.
The MindShift project is a significant endeavour for Philipps University of Marburg, as it serves to enhance the university's international prominence within the domain of computational psychiatry. This undertaking represents a substantial contribution to the advancement of personalised, data-driven methodologies in the realm of psychiatric care.
