Breaking the Ice: A descriptive case study overcoming hurdles to open neuroscience and mental health research

Open Science represents an emerging methodology that enables both researchers and the public to more easily access, evaluate, reuse, and build upon research findings. In this descriptive case study, we review Open Science approaches, identify challenges, and propose potential solutions that were discussed at the 2025 Open Science in Action Symposium. These approaches include a broad spectrum of components, emphasizing that research results–such as hypotheses, study designs, data, methodologies, software, publications, biological materials, and reagents–ought to be disseminated as openly and widely as feasible. Inherent to Open Science is the promotion of collaboration across disciplines and sectors, improvement to research reproducibility and integrity, and fostering public confidence through transparent practices. The symposium focused on practical approaches to address the challenges of incorporating and operationalizing Open Science across neuroscience and mental health research. The one-day event had 228 registrants and brought together trainees, staff, and researchers from the health research community, along with patient partners, representatives from advocacy organizations, research funders, and policy experts. Through a series of focused discussions and interactive sessions, the symposium sought to identify key challenges related to Open Science while showcasing potential solutions to navigate various hurdles in open neuroscience and mental health research. Our goal was to metaphorically "break the ice" by identifying challenges and understanding their impact using the theoretical domains framework, and then through further discussion recognizing facilitators and developing some solutions to these primary barriers to effectively implement Open Science across neuroscience and mental health as well as other research communities.