About ECYM

The center is funded for six years by the Einstein Foundation Berlin. Seven Berlin-based institutions combine their scientific and clinical expertise within ECYM:

• Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Freie Universität Berlin
• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Technische Universität Berlin
• Vivantes
• Max Planck Institute for Human Development
• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

A core component of ECYM is a cohort of youth with and without risk for serious mental disorders, such as psychosis, bipolar and borderline personality disorder (n=1000).

Using advanced neuroimaging, digital data, and machine learning, the study aims to identify risk and resilience factors as well as biomarkers for emerging serious mental disorders (SMIs). In parallel, ECYM develops and tests innovative therapeutic approaches and care models for youth at-risk for SMIs.

Youth with experience of mental disorders are actively involved in the research process to ensure that scientific insights are closely aligned with the needs of those affected.

ECYM brings together researchers who are actively engaged at both national and international levels, including leading experts in the early detection of mental health disorders. Our shared goal is to establish a research network that is unique nationally and internationally.

ECYM is supported by a strong network of key national and international partner organizations:

National:

• German Center for Mental Health https://www.dzpg.org/
• German Center for Child and Adolescent Health https://dzkj.org/
• Berlin University Alliance https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/

International:

• International Early Intervention and Prevention in Mental Health Association https://iepa.org.au/home

Our network is continuously growing. If you would like to connect your organization, initiate a collaboration, or co-create an event on the topic of youth mental health, we would be delighted to hear from you. We look forward to connecting with you!

The main decision-making body is the Consortium Board, which consists of the spokesperson and one principaI investigator (PI) from each institution, an early career researcher (ERC) as well as three persons with lived experience. The board defines the research strategy, oversees the budget, approves new members, and guides outreach activities.
An international advisory board of four eminent senior scientists provides independent guidance.

Training the next generation of scientists is a core mission of ECYM. PhD and postdoctoral positions are advertised internationally and selected based on excellence, diversity, and alignment with ECYM’s goals. Doctoral researchers are supervised by at least two mentors from different disciplines. A structured training program provides education in data analysis, open science, research integrity, scientific writing, and career development. New teaching initiatives and collaborations with graduate schools aim to inspire students early to pursue research in youth mental health.

ECYM uses secure, state-of-the-art data infrastructures at Charité (e.g. Health Data Platform (HDP), Medical data Integration center (MeDIC)) to ensure a multimodal and multicenter data management. A dedicated team supports projects in data governance, legal compliance, and knowledge sharing. We are committed to open science principles, including transparent research practices, study pre-registration where appropriate, open methods, and open-access publication of results.