India has launched “Calm Brain”, the country’s first open-source repository dedicated to major psychiatric disorders. The platform provides researchers, clinicians, and data scientists with anonymized, high-quality multimodal datasets (clinical, neuroimaging, genomic, and behavioural) on conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders, aiming to accelerate AI-driven research, biomarker discovery, and development of culturally relevant diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
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Developed through a collaborative effort involving the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), and leading academic institutions, Calm Brain offers standardized, de-identified datasets with proper ethical approvals and governance frameworks. Researchers can access neuroimaging (MRI/fMRI), genetic data, clinical assessments, and digital phenotyping information to build AI models for early detection, personalized treatment prediction, and better understanding of psychiatric illnesses in Indian populations. The initiative promotes open science, collaboration, and the creation of India-specific mental health solutions.
India has taken a significant step in advancing mental health research by launching “Calm Brain”, the country’s first open-source data repository dedicated to major psychiatric disorders. The platform was formally inaugurated on February 27, 2026, by senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Department of Biotechnology, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.
Calm Brain provides researchers worldwide with secure, ethically governed access to rich, anonymized multimodal datasets covering schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety-related conditions. The repository includes high-resolution neuroimaging (structural and functional MRI), genomic and epigenomic data, detailed clinical assessments, cognitive testing results, digital phenotyping from wearable devices, and longitudinal follow-up information. All datasets have been collected following rigorous ethical protocols, informed consent, and de-identification standards to protect participant privacy while maximizing research utility.
The primary goal of Calm Brain is to foster open science and accelerate the development of AI and machine learning models tailored to Indian populations. Researchers can use the data to discover biomarkers, build predictive models for early detection and relapse prevention, understand cultural and genetic influences on psychiatric illnesses, and design more effective, personalized interventions. The platform also encourages collaboration between clinicians, data scientists, and global researchers to address the unique challenges of mental health in diverse Indian communities.
NIMHANS and partner institutions have already contributed initial datasets from large-scale studies, with plans to continuously expand the repository through new research projects and contributions from other centres across the country. The initiative includes user-friendly tools for data exploration, standardized analysis pipelines, and governance mechanisms to ensure responsible use of the data.
Mental health experts have welcomed Calm Brain as a landmark move that addresses the historical lack of high-quality, India-specific datasets in psychiatric research. By making these resources openly available, India aims to reduce the research gap with Western countries and develop solutions that are culturally and genetically relevant to its population.lee
“Calm Brain opens the door to truly Indian solutions for mental health challenges. By sharing high-quality data openly, we can accelerate discovery, build better AI tools, and ultimately improve care for millions living with psychiatric disorders.”
By
HB Team
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