Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute
MHeNs, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute strives to advance our understanding of brain-behaviour relationships by using an approach integrating various disciplines in neuro- and behavioural science, medicine, and the life sciences. MHeNs performs high-impact neuroscience research and educates master’s students and PhD researchers. MHeNs performs translational research, meaning practical collaboration between researchers in the lab and in the hospital and in close collaboration with the Faculty for Psychology and Neuroscience and School of Business and Economics (Centre for Integrative Neuroscience).
Fast facts
- Led by Prof. David Linden
- Research continuum from fundamental to clinical and applied research
- About 500 researchers including 325 PhD students, 60 support staff
- More than 600 publications annually in Science Citation indexed journals
- 19 million euro annual budget
- Coordinator of the EURON Graduate School
The impact of MHeNs’ unique research approach
With the knowledge acquired today, we move forward working towards a better future for the patients of today and tomorrow. That is why we collaborate in crossroads.
Coming together at crucial intersections is where MHeNs researchers (from the five MHeNs research themes) and clinicians from the clinical pillars from MUMC+ Brain and Nerve Centre (BNC) and Centre for Ophthalmology meet and work together, opening the door to new discoveries. Discoveries for current patients and those of the future.
5 Research themes
11 Clinical pillars
MHeNs and BNC collaborate in 11 specialisms, aimed at patients with complex disorders of the brain and nervous system. The research collaborations occur in the so-called clinical pillars. The outcomes of this team research performances will lead to advanced evidence-based insights, innovative decision-making, better directions, highly developed innovations, technologies and treatments that can have considerable societal impact. Explore our crossroads in the following 5 research themes below.
Cognition and Dementia
Epilepsy
Movement
Stroke
Hearing and Balance
Vision and Ophthalmology
Autonomic Control
Mood, Anxiety and Trauma
Psychosis and Neurodevelopment
Eating Disorders
Pain
Get acquainted with the work of MHeNs, watch our animation on our research and societal impact.
PhD Education
MHeNs’ PhD programme promotes a high level of competence in a specific research field, but also in more generic, transferrable skills that are important for professional careers in research, education, or clinical practice.
News
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Living brain in a laboratory! The research of brain researcher Govert Hoogland has been nominated for the Klokhuis Science Award. Cast your vote too.
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Pieter Jelle Visser was appointed professor at Maastricht University in 2022. He is engaged in research on Alzheimer's disease: the underlying causes and the possibilities for therapy. Visser has always been intrigued by the brain. Researching Alzheimer's fascinates him, not least because much can...
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From the 17th to 19th March 2023, ten students from the Honors Programme in Maastricht University organized and attended a conference in Barcelona, focusing on Laminin Alpha-2–Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (LAMA2-CMD), also known as Merosin-Deficient Congenital Dystrophy Type 1A (MDC1A).
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Elderly individuals who live alone are particularly vulnerable to prolonged feelings of loneliness. That is why the researchers of the euPrevent PROFILE project addressed loneliness in older people.
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Melissa Schepers' doctoral research at Maastricht University and Hasselt University offers hope for the development of a new medication that can halt or restore the limitations of multiple sclerosis (MS).
Events
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20 Jun09:30 - 17:00
6th Annual Dutch Mitochondrial Meeting
The program will contain lectures on primary mitochondrial diseases and mitochondrial pathology in other diseases but also novel tools for in vitro and in vivo assessment of mitochondrial functioning.
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01 Jul 05 Jul
Summer School on Affective Neuroscience
The Summer School on Affective Neuroscience provides an education in the specialized field of affective neuroscience.
Promotions
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18 Jun16:00
PhD Defence Stephanie Van Asbroeck
"Targeting Modifiable Risk and Protective Factors To Prevent Dementia: From Observation to Application"
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25 Jun13:00
PhD Defence Natalia Y. Makhotkina
"Negative dysphotopsia"
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28 Jun13:00
PhD Defence Veerle van Gils
"The role of diabetes and vascular burden in Alzheimer’s disease: A pathophysiological perspective"