The Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research
The Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR) is a non-university research institute in the Leibniz Association whose mission is to research resilience - the ability to maintain or restore mental health during or following stressful life events or life circumstances. The main objectives of the LIR are to understand resilience mechanisms from a neuroscientific point of view, to develop and to provide appropriate psychological, pharmacological, and biotechnological interventions to promote resilience and to work towards changing living and working environments in order to strengthen resilience. The LIR is dedicated to matters that are of a very high social relevance and international importance; it closes a significant gap in the German research landscape and is also a unique centre in Europe.
The History of the LIR
In June of 2014, the LIR's predecessor centre, the German Resilience Center (Deutsches Resilienz Zentrum - DRZ) is founded as a central scientific institution of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU).
In mid-2016, the DRZ is established as an independent medical operating unit of the University Medical Center Mainz.
In January of 2018, the non-profit organization Deutsches Resilienz Zentrum (DRZ gGmbH) is established as a legally independent, non-university institution, separate from the University Medical Center Mainz and JGU.
After evaluation by the Leibniz-Association German Science and Humanities Council, the DRZ became member of the Leibniz Association by the end of 2019.
As of January 1, 2020, the DRZ has been operating as the “Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR).”