Mental disorders pose an increasing challenge to healthcare worldwide. Chronic mild inflammatory processes are considered an important risk factor for treatment resistance. However, the causes and sources of the inflammatory activity are still poorly understood. The interdisciplinary NEXUS Research Group “Immunometabolism and Mental Health” is funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation and investigates changes in immune activity in mental disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Our goal is to trace the inflammation patterns back to the activity of specific immune cell types. Artificial intelligence will be used to identify biomarkers that predict individual patient responses to treatment. Using gene expression data and in vitro experiments, we aim to identify cell-specific molecular mechanisms of inflammatory activity. Concrete targets for pharmacological innovations will be derived from this to reduce inflammatory activity in a targeted manner in the future. Through our research, we hope to provide valuable foundations for necessary advances in personalized diagnostics and treatment prognosis for patients with mental disorders.

Interdisciplinary collaboration partners:

• Jun.-Prof. Dr. Konstantin Sparrer, BMBF Research Group Immunomod, Institute Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Faculty
• Prof. Dr. Iris-Tatjana Kolassa, Clinical & Biological Psychology, Ulm University
• Prof. Dr. Emanuel Schwarz, Hector Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry (HITKIP), Central Institute for Mental Health (ZI) Mannheim

The Carl Zeiss Foundation is funding the Junior Research Group with approximately 1.5 million euros from March 2025 to February 2031.