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UCL and Max Planck Society renew partnership for computational psychiatry and ageing research

21 February 2025

UCL has renewed its partnership with the Max Planck Society, extending the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research until 2030.

Two men sign agreement for continued partnership

Strengthening a decade-long collaboration 

The renewal was formalised at a signing ceremony at the Max Planck Society Headquarters in Munich, Germany, during a UCL delegation visit led by Professor Geraint Rees, Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement). The agreement underscores UCL’s continued commitment to pioneering research in computational psychiatry, addressing mental health conditions and cognitive development through data-driven approaches. 

Professor Rees commented on the renewal: “The renewal of this Centre demonstrates the strength of our collaboration with the Max Planck Society. By extending our partnership, we reaffirm our dedication to advancing computational psychiatry and ageing research, ensuring the Centre continues to drive impactful discoveries.” 

Delegates from UCL pose at the Max Planck centre

Research excellence and global impact 

Since its inception in 2014, the Centre has become a global leader in computational psychiatry and ageing research, producing groundbreaking work on the neural mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders and cognitive function. Its seven active research groups, led by experts from both institutions, focus on harnessing computational models to better understand mental health conditions and ageing-related cognitive decline. 

Among its many achievements, the Centre’s researchers have been recognised with prestigious accolades, including: 

  • 2017 Brain Prize (Prof Ray Dolan and Prof Peter Dayan) 
  • 2019 Ferrier Medal (Prof Ray Dolan) 
  • 2021 Philip Leverhulme Prize (Prof Tobias Hauser) 

Future directions and expansion 

Looking ahead, UCL and the Max Planck Society are exploring opportunities to deepen their collaboration including expanding research efforts to include further disciplines.  

The Centre will continue to support world-class training for early-career researchers with the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) on Computational Methods in Psychiatry and Ageing Research (IMPRS COMP2PSYCH), recently renewed until 2028.

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