EPA participates in Virtual Brain Twin Co-Creation Workshop in Madrid

The EPA was proud to contribute to the first Design Co-Creation Workshop – Design Co-Lab of the Virtual Brain Twin (VBT) project, held at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid on 7 November 2024.

The workshop brought together psychiatrists, neuroscientists, innovation researchers, individuals with lived experience of schizophrenia, as well as patient families and informal carers to discuss the future of personalised mental health treatment.

The VBT project aims to develop a platform for the creation of personalised brain network simulations to optimise treatment for psychiatric patients. During the workshop, Sandra Diaz from Forschungszentrum Jülich introduced the project’s vision and emphasised the importance of co-designing solutions with patients and families. Ethical dimensions, including dignity, privacy, and autonomy, were discussed by Professor Gerrit Tiefenthal from the University of Bonn.

Interactive sessions explored diverse stakeholder perspectives, identified user challenges through personas, and brainstormed actionable recommendations. EPA, along with partners GAMIAN-Europe and EUFAMI, ensured that patient and family voices were central to the dialogue.

The workshop strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration and highlighted the importance of user-centred innovation. The EPA remains committed to advancing projects like VBT that bridge science, clinical practice, and lived experiences to improve mental health care.