Research Infrastructures

The DZPG Infrastructure for Biobanking, Omics, and Bioinformatics (DZPG INF BOB) aims to establish standardized processes and IT systems for biobanking, the collection and exchange of omics data, as well as their bioinformatic analysis within the DZPG.

Biobanking – Structured Collection and Storage of Biological Samples

In the area of biobanking, a decentralized biobank network is being developed. Biological samples collected at various sites—for example, blood or tissue samples from study participants—will be interconnected and managed according to uniform standards. This is ensured through so-called SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), predefined workflows that guarantee that all biobanks in the network operate under the same scientific and organizational guidelines. In addition, specific IT solutions are being developed to securely store and link data without the need to collect all information in a central repository (so-called federated IT structures).

Omics – Large-Scale Analysis of Biological Information

In the field of omics, the focus is on the standardized collection and provision of biological data (omics data). This includes information about genes (genomics), proteins (proteomics), and metabolic processes (metabolomics). Such data are to be collected in a uniform format to ensure that they are readily accessible to researchers and allow for meaningful comparisons. Moreover, pre-existing older datasets (legacy data) will be integrated to leverage their scientific value further.

Bioinformatics – Computer-Assisted Analysis of Large Data Sets

Bioinformatics plays a crucial role in analyzing the vast amounts of omics data. Standardized analytical methods and workflows will be employed. Workflows are predefined, often automated processing steps that allow data to be analyzed reliably.

Another key concept is data lifecycle management, which regulates the entire “life cycle” of data—from collection to processing to long-term archiving. This ensures that data can be used sustainably and in line with the principles of open science, meaning they remain accessible and verifiable for other researchers.

Transparent Collaboration via the foldercase Platform

To facilitate collaboration among the various stakeholders, the foldercase platform is used as a central communication and cooperation tool. It provides a clear overview of the project status, milestones, and current developments of DZPG INF BOB, supporting both internal and external communication.

Contact
 

Dr. Emanuel Schwarz
ZI Mannheim
J5
68159 Mannheim
+49 621 1703-2368
emanuel.schwarz@zi-mannheim.de

The Digital Mental Health infrastructure supports researchers in addressing key questions regarding the implementation of their research projects and assists them in developing digital technologies for mental health. This encompasses both the systematic collection of long-term health data and the development of new digital applications compliant with the Medical Device Regulation (MDR), ensuring adherence to legal standards for medical devices.

A particular focus lies on collecting intensive longitudinal data over extended periods. Methods such as Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) enable the direct capture of moods, thoughts, or behaviors in participants’ daily lives—for instance, through regular smartphone surveys. In addition, mobile sensing is employed, whereby automatically collected data from smartphones or wearable devices, such as information on movement, sleep, or heart rate, is used to monitor mental well-being continuously.

To optimally support researchers, the infrastructure provides access to a repository, a scientific collection of validated methods, measurement tools, and digital platforms. Standardized work instructions (SOPs), templates, and manuals are also made available. Researchers receive guidance in key areas, including clinical trials for testing new digital therapeutic approaches, research funding applications, and methodological support for innovative study designs. These include Trial within Cohorts (TwiCs), a design that tests new treatments within an existing long-term study, and Micro-Randomized Trials, which systematically examine minor variations in digital interventions—such as reminder messages in a therapy app—to optimize their effectiveness. Furthermore, the infrastructure promotes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for the personalization and improvement of digital health applications.

Another crucial aspect is the rapid development and testing of new digital methods and tools. For this purpose, a decentralized incubation infrastructure has been established, allowing promising prototypes to be further developed in close collaboration with other DZPG infrastructures. This tight networking ultimately facilitates the swift transfer of new scientific insights and technologies into clinical practice.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Reininghaus
ZI Mannheim
J5
68159 Mannheim
+49 621 1703-1930
ulrich.reininghaus@zi-mannheim.de

The Data and Knowledge Management infrastructure (DKM-INF) of the DZPG collaborates closely with the Principal Investigators (PIs) of research projects to enable centralized study data management. The DKM-INF team supports research projects by programming Electronic Data Capture (EDC) systems and quality management interfaces tailored to the specific study objectives. EDCs are digital systems that allow data to be collected electronically and in real time, instead of manually. Quality management interfaces ensure that collected data are accurate and reliable by integrating verification processes and quality standards into the data collection process. This helps standardize data across all DZPG partner sites, facilitating comparability and ensuring high data quality standards—meaning the data are error-free, consistent, and usable for research.

Additionally, the DKM-INF infrastructure provides on-site support through six Data Stewards who manage data administration and quality. Central support is also offered through the study management functions of the DZPG study portal, a digital platform for managing study aspects, including participant data, progress reports, and analyses.

Upon completion of the study, the DKM-INF team provides research projects with statistical expertise to analyze the collected data and generate meaningful results. A toolbox of methodological tools is made available within a central analysis cloud, where data can be stored and processed without requiring specialized local software or hardware.

Finally, project teams are offered the opportunity to make their data and results available for reuse on the planned knowledge management platform of DKM-INF. Other researchers or interested parties can thus access this information to derive new research questions or verify existing findings.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. Nikolaos Koutsouleris
Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Nußbaumstraße 7
80336 Munich
+49 89 4400-55885
nikolaos.koutsouleris@med.uni-muenchen.de

The Psychotherapy Research infrastructure (PT-INF) is a digital platform that enables systematic coordination of psychotherapy research. It helps connect and organize research on psychotherapeutic treatments within a study across different age groups (e.g., children, adults, and older adults) or clinical settings (such as hospitals, private practices, or outpatient therapy services).

In the future, PT-INF will provide DZPG researchers with opportunities to network with other experts in the field of psychotherapy, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience. In addition, researchers can participate in the Practice-Research Network, which offers access to longitudinal data from routine psychotherapeutic care. Longitudinal data capture changes over an extended period in therapy progression, providing practical insights into the effectiveness of treatment approaches.

PT-INF also enables the integration of clinical trials into this network. This allows controlled studies on psychotherapeutic treatments to be linked with routine care data from everyday practice, generating more comprehensive results. Furthermore, PT-INF offers training and consultation focused on key topics in psychotherapy research, including psychotherapeutic interventions, diagnostics, and analytical methods.

Contact
 

Dr. Gabriel Bonnin
Ruhr University Bochum
Research and Treatment Center for Mental Health (FBZ)
Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Massenbergstraße 9-13
44787 Bochum
+49 234 32-21753
gabriel.bonnin@rub.de

The DZPG Youth Mental Health infrastructure aims to promote the mental health of children and adolescents in key settings, including daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools. These settings are crucial as they represent formative phases of child development, where mental health can be supported through appropriate interventions. The infrastructure provides, prospectively:

Digital platform with information on prevention and intervention measures: The online platform enables researchers to apply and disseminate their findings and interventions in the long term. Feedback from users (e.g., teachers, caregivers, or children and adolescents themselves) can be used to develop the platform further, enhancing its effectiveness and tailoring it to the specific needs of target groups.

Support in study design: Researchers are assisted in identifying relevant stakeholders (individuals or groups involved in or affected by the study, e.g., parents, teachers, or school psychologists). Standardized templates for consent forms and recommended measurement tools for various constructs are also provided, ensuring consistent and reliable data collection that improves comparability across studies.

Research network of partner schools: A network of partner schools that can be utilized for study purposes.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. Hanna Christiansen
Philipps University Marburg
Psychology (Fb04)
Gutenbergstr. 18
35032 Marburg
+49 6421 28-23706
christih@staff.uni-marburg.de

The DZPG Model Systems infrastructure provides cellular model systems and animal models to enhance understanding of the mechanisms underlying mental disorders.

Cellular model systems are derived from skin or blood samples from affected individuals. These samples can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using modern genetic and cell biological methods. This means that cells originally limited to a specific function (e.g., skin or blood cells) are transformed so they can differentiate into various cell types, including neurons and glial cells. Stem cells can thus be used as a source for studying human neurons and glial cells. It is even possible to create small three-dimensional “mini brains” (organoids) to investigate individual disease mechanisms or cellular responses to medications.

Animal models are used for research questions that require an intact, living organism, such as studying the role of the immune system and metabolism in mental health and disease. In these models (mostly laboratory rodents), disease-relevant mechanisms can be studied directly, including organism-environment interactions and long-term effects of environmental influences as well as pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. med. Josef Priller
TUM
Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Ismaninger Straße 22
81675 Munich
+49 89 41404837
josef.priller@tum.de

The DZPG Neuromodulation infrastructure aims to enhance cooperation and coordination in neuromodulation research and applications. Neuromodulation encompasses a range of methods using electrical or magnetic impulses to influence brain activity and treat psychiatric or neurological disorders. The infrastructure provides comprehensive consultation and support in the following areas:

Platform for exchanging neuromodulation technologies: Facilitating connections with and among experts in various neuromodulation technologies. These include EEG, fMRI, and fNIRS neurofeedback, which monitor and regulate the brain in real time, as well as brain-computer interfaces enabling direct communication with computers. Other methods include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) for targeted activation of brain regions, vagus nerve stimulation via electrical impulses, and operative neuromodulation, such as deep brain stimulation using implanted electrodes.

Study planning and coordination in neuromodulation research: Assistance in designing and coordinating studies on neuromodulation approaches, both single-center (monocentric) and multi-center (multicentric). This includes randomized controlled trials to test treatment efficacy compared with a control group, as well as smaller pilot studies for initial evaluation of new approaches.

Development and individualization of neuromodulation procedures: Establishment of innovative neuromodulation approaches and adaptation of existing methods to alternative indications, including personalized stimulation parameters and tailored therapies.

Legal, organizational, and ethical aspects of neuromodulation: Support and advice on legal, organizational, or regulatory requirements for conducting neuromodulation studies, such as the Medical Device Implementation Act (MPDG,  Medizinprodukte-Durchführungsgesetz), and guidance for establishing open access and FAIR data standards.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Fallgatter
University Hospital Tübingen
Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Osianderstr. 24
72076 Tübingen
+49 707 1298-4858
andreas.fallgatter@med.uni-tuebingen.de

The Federative Cohort Management infrastructure (INF FCM) supports research projects in applying for the use of existing and ongoing cohorts and enables cross-site analysis.

The established cohort registry of INF FCM provides information on existing study data in accordance with FAIR principles, facilitating their reuse. Additionally, the infrastructure includes expertise and prior experience to support the combination and analysis of data from multiple study sites. This allows for federated, i.e., cross-site, analyses, providing a more comprehensive understanding of specific health questions, as data may come from different geographic regions or institutions.

Another key aspect is data harmonization. In research, data often originate from diverse sources and may not be uniform or directly comparable. The infrastructure facilitates the adaptation of these data, enabling them to be combined and analyzed meaningfully.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. med. Rafael Mikolajczyk, MSc
Director, Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics (IMEBI)
Profilzentrum Gesundheitswissenschaften
Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Magdeburgerstraße 8
06112 Halle (Saale)
+49 345 557-3570

and

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Oliver Tüscher
Director, University Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics
University Hospital Halle (Saale)
Julius-Kühn-Straße 7
06112 Halle (Saale)
+49 345 557-3651
psychiatrie@uk-halle.de

The Imaging infrastructure provides scientific expertise and services for establishing and maintaining a forward-looking collaborative structure for multicenter collection of harmonized, high-quality, large-scale datasets and their use for analyses by researchers across the six DZPG partner sites, as well as for Open Science initiatives.

Imaging modalities include, for example, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT (Computed Tomography). The infrastructure ensures that data from various sources (multicentric) within the DZPG are structured and standardized for comparison and analysis. This is crucial for obtaining large and diverse datasets that provide a broader and more precise understanding of the topics studied. Another goal is to support Open Science, ensuring that scientific data and results are freely accessible.

The infrastructure aims to increase efficiency in data generation and curation by better coordinating and optimizing repetitive processes common to many imaging studies. This creates synergies that enable more effective data collection and management without unnecessary duplication. Individual studies are relieved from setting up these activities independently, and interoperability of imaging procedures is maximized. For this purpose, a consensus sequence battery for MRI acquisitions at 3 Tesla and 7 Tesla has been established and implemented at each site using standardized SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). This forms the mandatory foundation for DZPG-funded imaging projects and ensures a uniform approach.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. med. Martin Walter
University Hospital Jena
Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Philosophenweg 3
07743 Jena
+49 3641 9300
martin.walter@med.uni-jena.de

The Clinical Studies infrastructure (DARTS) supports the conduct of clinical studies, systematic reviews, and guidelines across all treatment modalities, facilitating, streamlining, and accelerating research. This is achieved through collaborative involvement of all relevant groups (study participants, relatives, affected individuals, ethics committees, authorities, etc.).

DARTS provides a range of support options:

Qualifications & Training: Includes certification for clinical trials according to the German Medicines Act and GCP guidelines (Good Clinical Practice – international standards for conducting clinical trials).

Networking with international initiatives: DARTS collaborates with global programs such as the Global Clinical Trial Collaborative (GCTC) and GALENOS to enhance research exchange and cooperation.

Study planning consultation: Offers tools and advice for planning randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including a mentor-matching program pairing experienced researchers with early-career scientists.

Listing in the DZPG-wide study portal: Studies can be listed in the portal to facilitate participant recruitment.

Evidence-based prioritization and harmonization of outcome measures: DARTS helps researchers prioritize study results according to scientific standards and harmonize assessment methods.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. Stefan M. Gold
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Campus Benjamin Franklin (CBF)
Hindenburgdamm 30
12203 Berlin
+49 30 450-517532
stefan.gold@charite.de

The DZPG Infrastructure Center for PPI aims to promote and coordinate collaboration between researchers, patients, and relatives (participatory research). It supports the local trialogical board and provides on-site guidance through local PPI officers in the following areas:

Planning and documentation of participatory elements in research: Assisting in the inclusion of patients and relatives in research projects to ensure that their perspectives are considered.

Provision of and introduction to tools for participatory research: Offering instruments and training for methods such as focus groups, digital participation platforms, and guidelines for collaboration with patient and relative groups in research projects.

Connecting experienced individuals and researchers for joint projects: Facilitating contacts between individuals with lived experience and scientists to work together on research projects.

Consultation and guidelines on compensation: Advising on appropriate remuneration for patients and relatives participating in research projects.

Information on PPI training: Providing information on training opportunities that prepare both patients, relatives, and researchers for collaborative work in projects.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Isabel Dziobek
+49 30 2093-89758
isabel.dziobek@hu-berlin.de

Silke Lipinski M.A.
+49 30 2093-89759
silke.lipinski@hu-berlin.de

More on the topic of participation in the DZPG.

The DZPG Academy offers a variety of utilization options for research projects through its three components: Educate, Share, Inform.

Educate: Structured training modules are provided to help project staff qualify or pursue further education within projects.

Share: This area serves as a starting point for planned "lab rotations," programs in which staff rotate through different departments or projects to gain diverse experiences.

Inform: This component enables the presentation of individuals, projects, or scientific publications to a broad audience, such as through a podcast.

The CoMMT (Core Facility Media Technology in Medicine, Tübingen) and TIME (Tübingen Institute for Medical Education) provide technical and didactic support for the design and implementation of the DZPG Academy’s applications. CoMMT allows instructors to record and/or livestream their courses professionally. TIME, specialized in medical education, supports the DZPG Academy in the didactic design of learning content.

Contact
 

Prof. Dr. Stephan Zipfel
University Hospital Tübingen
ViTa Building
Osianderstraße 5
72076 Tübingen
+49 7071 298-6714
stephan.zipfel@med.uni-tuebingen.de

More about the DZPG Academy.