Mission Statement

Our primary mission is to advance understanding, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurological diseases and mental disorders, which unfold and change across the lifespan. Our synergistic research programs allow us to understand the causes of volatility and variability of signs and symptoms found across most neurological and mental diseases. This variability constitutes a major challenge for research clinical trials. It is a daily burden for patients living with uncertainty about their future well-being. Our key expertise addresses dynamic disorders/diseases' challenges, which often have unpredictable pathophysiological courses and mechanisms. Fluctuating symptoms characterize these disorders/diseases, which may follow multiple trajectories rather than a linear progression.

By focusing on such dynamic and complex diseases, we place ourselves in a unique position to bridge the “translational void” by transforming scientific discoveries into clinical practice. Through available support structures, we employ various methodologies, ranging from studying cellular mechanisms to system levels and analyzing clinical manifestations, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of disease progression. This approach enables us to translate basic research into clinical applications effectively, improving patient outcomes and accelerating the development of new therapeutic and preventive interventions. We pay particular attention to the influence of comorbidities and the transitions between diseases over time, recognizing how disorders/diseases evolve and manifest in altered phenotypes. This awareness informs our efforts in treatment and prevention, ensuring we address not only individual disorders/diseases but also their broader interconnections. By integrating diverse methods from neuroscience, psychology/psychiatry, digital health, and beyond, we enhance the depth and scope of our research and intend to develop innovative solutions to complex neurological diseases and mental disorders. Our commitment extends to creating structures (e.g., DZNE, DZKJ, CRTD) that allow the early application of research findings to benefit patients directly - from bench to clinic. Our research emphasizes flexibility and precision, offering deep methodological expertise and adopting a multi-modal approach that avoids one-size-fits-all strategies.

Integral to our scientific mission, we provide comprehensive education and training that prepares students and health professionals at all levels—undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral—for diverse career paths in academia, industry, government, and clinical practice. We emphasize international collaboration and inclusivity, acknowledging that international students and researchers often have different educational expectations. Our programs for clinicians and medical scientists are bundled by the Dresden School of Clinical Science (DSCS) and designed to address these diverse needs while fostering an environment of innovation and excellence. The active participation of various institutions in our educational initiatives allows young researchers to gain valuable insights across different disciplines and practice areas, offering opportunities for specialization and interdisciplinary growth. We are committed to creating development opportunities in research and clinical practice, ensuring that professional tracks remain open and that individuals can pursue their unique interests and ambitions. Our educational mission is to attract and retain talent, prevent young researchers from “falling through the cracks,” and provide the support needed for long-term career success. In that regard, we believe that diversity enriches the academic and social experience and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives are valued and empowered to thrive. By embracing diverse voices, we enhance learning, fuel innovation, and build a more equitable community. Together, we cultivate a campus culture of mutual respect, collaboration, and opportunity for all. By all this,  we aim to cultivate the next generation of scientists and clinicians who will continue to drive innovation in neurological and mental health research.

By advancing our fundamental understanding of disease processes, specifically, the dynamics of pathogenesis, and the translation of our scientific discoveries into clinical applications, we aim to improve public health, enhance the quality of life for patients, and contribute to the broader understanding of mental and neurological health across age. We recognize the potential to shape healthcare outcomes, public health policies, and community well-being. Through a clear internationalization strategy, we are advancing science and directly contributing to the workforce that will improve patient care and healthcare delivery, focusing on local care research programs. Additionally, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and findings with the public to ensure that the complexity of medical research becomes understandable for everyone.

Our key area embraces open science principles by sharing research data, methodologies, and findings with the wider scientific community and the public. This commitment helps accelerate discovery by fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, as exemplified by DRESDEN-concept, thereby increasing our chances of making major scientific leaps via synergistic efforts to identify common and specific concepts more effectively. By making our research more openly accessible, we encourage diverse contributions and invite global participation in tackling the complex diseases we study. We ensure that all research conducted within our faculty adheres to strict ethical guidelines, safeguarding the well-being of research participants and the scientific data's integrity. Our educational programs, bundled by the Dresden School of Clinical Science (DSCS), emphasize these values, instilling in the next generation of researchers a deep respect for ethical practice and the importance of maintaining public trust in science.