Home |Anniversary 50 years CIMH|Ceremony and symposium

50 years of innovations for mental health

As a pioneer and driving force, the CIMH has played a key role in shaping the research and treatment of mental illnesses since 1975. On 5 June 2025, we celebrated this success story and our 50th anniversary with a ceremony and a high-calibre scientific symposium.

Around 300 guests spent this special day with us at Mannheim Palace, including our keynote speakers Minister Petra Olschowski, Lord Mayor Christian Specht, Rector Prof Dr Frauke Melchior, DGPPN President Prof Dr Euphrosyne Gouzoulis-Mayfrank and Prof Dr Peter Falkai.

In their speeches, they emphasised the importance of the CIMH: for progress in psychiatry and neuroscience, in the care of people and for raising awareness of mental illness. The importance of mental health for our society and for the city of Mannheim was also impressively emphasised. Against this backdrop, CIMH CEO Prof Dr Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg and CFO Andreas-W. Möller thanked the staff for their tireless efforts.

  • Around 300 invited guests gathered in the Knights' Hall of Mannheim Castle for a ceremony to celebrate 50 years of CIMH.

  • The keynote speakers (from left to right): Prof Dr Frauke Melchior, Prof Dr Peter Falkai, Petra Olschowski, Andreas-W. Möller, Prof Dr Euphrosyne Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, Prof Dr Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Christian Specht, Prof Dr Daniel R. Weinberger, Wolfgang Pföhler

  • A first get-together: In the foyer of Mannheim Palace, guests were able to socialise before the ceremony.

  • Prof Dr Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, CEO of the CIMH, welcomed the guests and described the CIMH as a lucky child...

  • ... and outlined the significance of the institute from its beginnings in 1975 to the present day.

  • Science Minister Petra Olschowski recognised the outstanding achievements of the CIMH: ‘The Central Institute of Mental Health has stood for excellent work in research, teaching and patient care for five decades.’

  • ‘The CIMH is at the heart of a close-knit support network for mentally ill people in our city,’ emphasised Mannheim's Lord Mayor Christian Specht.

  • A special birthday present from the City of Mannheim: Christian Specht handed over the street sign for the future Heinz-Häfner-Platz to Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg.

  • Prof. Dr Euphrosyne Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, President of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology, emphasised the importance of the CIMH for the research and treatment of mental illnesses.

  • Prof. Dr Euphrosyne Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, President of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology, emphasised the importance of the CIMH for the research and treatment of mental illnesses.

  • The ceremony was accompanied by music from Anders Muskens and the New Mannheim Orchestra.

  • 'The CIMH has played a decisive role in shaping the development of psychiatric-psychotherapeutic research and patient care in Germany,' explained Prof Dr Peter Falkai, Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, in his speech.

  • Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg (left) and Wolfgang Pföhler (right) presented Daniel R. Weinberger with the Heinrich Lanz Prize for Translational Research in Psychiatry. The prize was awarded for the first time on the occasion of the anniversary.

  • Much applause for the moving acceptance speech by Daniel R. Weinberger ...

  • Andreas-W. Möller, Commercial Director of the CIMH, thanked all CIMH employees for their tireless commitment and presented the anniversary magazine.

  • A special highlight: the publication of our anniversary magazine.

  • Our colleagues from MHFA First Aiders presented their services.

  • The Stark im Sturm and Elma initiatives also presented their work to the guests in attendance.

  • In front of the castle, we informed interested parties about animal research and animal welfare at the CIMH.

  • After the ceremony there was time for discussions ...

  • ... and the mutual exchange.

  • Impressive backdrop: Mannheim Castle was the centrepiece of the CIMH festival on this day.

The Heinrich Lanz Foundation in Mannheim awarded the Heinrich Lanz Prize for Translational Research in Medicine for the first time during the ceremony. The first award was made in the field of psychiatry. The US psychiatrist and neuroscientist Professor Dr Daniel R. Weinberger received the highly endowed prize of 100,000 euros.

The ceremony was complemented by a scientific symposium in the afternoon. Internationally renowned experts spoke on the latest developments and issues in neuropsychiatric research.

  • In addition to the ceremony, a scientific symposium was also held in Mannheim Palace in the afternoon.

  • Internationally renowned experts spoke on the latest developments and issues in neuropsychiatric research.

  • Prof. Dr. Daniel R. Weinberger, Lieber Institute for Brain Development and Johns Hopkins University, USA
     

  • Prof. Dr Katrin Amunts, Forschungszentrum Jülich and University of Düsseldorf

  • Prof. Dr. John F. Cryan, University College Cork, Ireland
     

  • Prof. Dr. Marion Leboyer, Université Paris-Est Créteil, France

  • Prof Dr Elisabeth Binder, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich

  • Prof. Dr. Craig Morgan, King‘s College London, UK

  • Lively exchange during the symposium

  • Coffee break in front of Mannheim Palace

  • Many thanks to everyone who celebrated 50 years of CIMH with us. We look forward to the next 50 years!

More about the ceremony

You can watch the entire recording of the ceremony and the symposium here.

History of the CIMH
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Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit (ZI) - https://www.zi-mannheim.de