Areas of research at the LIR

Research at the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research is bundled into the following three research and program areas, which interact closely with the LIR's current three platforms:

The four research groups in the research area "Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Resilience", RG Lutz, RG Müller, RG Schweiger and JRG Hesse develop improved animal phenotypes for resilience, develop new methods to elucidate resilience mechanisms and investigate selected causal mechanisms as starting points for resilience interventions. They work primarily in animal models and understand resilience as a dynamic adaptation process that is influenced by genetic, epigenetic, biochemical/metabolic and neurophysiological processes as well as by the environment and behaviour and is modifiable. The Hesse Junior Research Group (NWG) was established in 2024. It strengthens the bioinformatics and modelling expertise within the program area and throughout the LIR.

The three research groups RG Bergmann, RG Kalisch, RG Stroh and the associated RG Tüscher in the research area "Systemic Mechanisms of Resilience" combine animal and human research to further develop resilience theory, test theoretical predictions in longitudinal observational and interventional cohort studies in humans and analyse selected neural and cognitive resilience mechanisms in experimental laboratory studies in humans and rodents at a systemic level. Method development focuses on neuromodulation, in particular temporal-spatial precise individualised neurostimulation via TMS and TUS in humans, for the purpose of causal manipulations in mechanistic studies. The replacement of the Tüscher working group planned for 2026 will be used to strengthen systems biology approaches in resilience research.

The research groups RG Lieb and RG Rigotti and the associated RG Wessa in the research area "Cognitive and Behavioral Mechanisms of resilience" develop resilience interventions based on neuropsychological resilience mechanisms and research social, societal and structural contextual factors of resilience as well as the importance of relationship-preventive approaches to promoting resilience. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on resilience mechanisms, resilience trajectories and the effectiveness of resilience-promoting interventions underpin the knowledge generated at the LIR and are the starting point for further developments in resilience theory. The research area supports product development in the Transfer application platform and the development of guidelines. The replacement of the Wessa working group planned for autumn 2025 is intended to strengthen research into resilience mechanisms and the development of innovative, precise and scalable brief interventions.