Prof. Tobias Hauser from University of Tübingen and UCL was awarded the 2024 ERC Public Engagement with Research Award for the “OCD and the Brain” Project ‘for co-creating an accessible, interactive resource on obsessive-compulsive disorders, bridging neuroscience and community needs for real impact.’  

The ‘OCD and the Brain’ project, led by Professor Tobias Hauser, aimed to bridge the gap between neuroscience research and the OCD community by co-producing an engaging, available online resource for young people living with OCD, their parents, and their caregivers. Recognising a disconnect between research and real-world experiences, the project brought together researchers, charities, public engagement specialists, and the OCD community in a series of creative workshops and focus groups. This collaboration resulted in a user-friendly website that conveys complex neuroscience tailored to the community’s needs.

The project’s method of co-creation was praised for empowering the OCD community, with the jury stating, ‘This project elegantly bridges research and real-world needs through a bottom-up, inclusive approach.’ Beyond the resource itself, the project’s impact extended into influencing future research, driving new grant applications and projects that address the community’s priorities. ‘OCD and the Brain’ serves as a powerful example of how genuine collaboration between researchers and citizens can maximise both scientific and societal value.

Tobias Hauser won ERC Starting Grant in 2020 to carry out the project entitled ‘Understanding the impact of brain fluctuations on decision making (NeuroFlux)’.

To read the full the article, please visit: Winning projects 2024 Public Engagement with Research Award | ERC