Can Science Transform Child Mental Health?

By Michael P. Milham, MD, PhD
Chief Science Officer, Child Mind Institute

We’re at a pivotal moment in mental health research, where breakthroughs have the power to transform lives. But progress requires more than discovery — it demands bold action, sustained investment, and a commitment to science that is innovative, rigorous, and sometimes disruptive. By prioritizing open collaboration, strategic research investments, and real-world solutions, we can ensure today’s discoveries lead to better care for children and families everywhere. Now is the time to support research that is transparent, impactful, and accessible — because science moves forward when we move forward together.

Given recent discussions about science, I invite you to reflect on the critical challenges and extraordinary opportunities in mental health research. We face urgent public health issues — rising youth suicide rates, the pervasive influence of digital technology and social media, and an ongoing substance use crisis. Anxiety and depression, particularly among adolescents, are also increasing. These challenges are further compounded by the complexities of diagnosing and treating neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. Yet, thanks to generations of effort, a growing body of scientific, technological, and clinical knowledge is equipping us with powerful new tools and insights to address these challenges more effectively.

For decades, researchers have built a strong foundation in neuroscience, psychology, and cognitive science. Now, with advanced data analytics, machine learning, and digital tools, we can translate discoveries into real-world solutions faster than ever. Open science plays a vital role in this progress — catalyzing discovery, enabling data sharing, fostering transparency, and engaging a broader network of scientists.

At the Child Mind Institute, we are proud to be part of a global movement advancing open science. We put this commitment into action through initiatives like the International Neuroimaging Data-sharing Initiative (INDI), as well as large-scale data-sharing consortia such as ADHD-200, the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE), and the Consortium for Reliability and Reproducibility (CoRR). These collaborations have strengthened research infrastructure, accelerated discovery, and enhanced scientific rigor. We have also launched major data-generation efforts, including the Healthy Brain Network and the Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Lifespan Sample, to advance biomarker discovery and open new avenues for mental health research. By expanding access to high-quality neuroimaging datasets, these initiatives help researchers study mental health across conditions and over time, leading to more effective and inclusive solutions. Collectively, these efforts — alongside the work of many others in the open science community — have fueled thousands of studies by independent investigators, saved over $4 billion in research costs, and fostered a more transparent and reproducible scientific culture. This progress underscores the transformative power of open collaboration and shared knowledge.

But open science alone is not enough. To fully harness its potential, research must be scalable, accessible, and reproducible — critical factors in translating discoveries into life-changing interventions. Advances in digital technologies, data analytics, and interdisciplinary collaboration are making this possible. We are leveraging these innovations not only to expand data sharing but also to accelerate the development of solutions that are both precise and widely available, ensuring that scientific progress translates into tangible benefits for the communities that need them most.

These innovations are driving research that is not only scalable but also more accessible and reproducible — key to turning scientific discoveries into life-changing interventions. This is an exciting time to be part of this evolution, and the Child Mind Institute is at the forefront of this progress. Our work in digital technologies, advanced analytics, and interdisciplinary partnerships demonstrates that we can — and should — accelerate scientific progress while maintaining the highest standards of integrity. With today’s unprecedented ability to gather and analyze data, we can create more precise, equitable, and scalable interventions — especially for underserved communities.

Given these possibilities, now is not the time to scale back investment in science — we must expand it to fully realize its potential. Funding debates need not be adversarial or avoided; rather, they are opportunities to highlight the real-world benefits of supporting open, forward-thinking, and impactful research. Every stakeholder plays a vital role in this endeavor:

• Families who participate in studies and share their experiences
• Researchers who push the boundaries of discovery
• Board members and philanthropists who secure essential resources
• Clinicians who translate research into frontline care
• Funding agencies that provide critical financial support
• Institutions that sustain the infrastructure for innovation
• Policymakers who craft legislation to foster scientific progress

When all these groups embrace a shared vision, breakthroughs become more than just discoveries — they become accessible, affordable, and effective solutions to the mental health crises affecting so many.

At the Child Mind Institute, we recognize that meaningful change in mental health care requires disruption — but disruption that is responsible, balancing rapid progress with scientific rigor and integrity. Our commitment to “responsible disruption” drives us to pioneer innovative methods and technologies that spark paradigm shifts while maintaining rigorous ethical and scientific standards. We challenge traditional academic structures that have long prioritized individual achievement over collaborative, open-science models. By leveraging open data, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and building inclusive consortia, we are creating an environment where bold, impactful research can thrive. In doing so, we build on decades of scholarship, integrating established knowledge with novel solutions that deliver more precise diagnostics, treatments, and preventive strategies — ultimately reshaping how we understand and address mental health challenges.

The time for action is now. By prioritizing open collaboration, investing in infrastructure, and embracing responsible innovation, we can transform mental health research into a globally coordinated effort that delivers meaningful progress for children and families worldwide. The Child Mind Institute stands ready to work with every partner who shares this mission.

Together, we can turn today’s breakthroughs into tomorrow’s solutions.