ISRY was created to promote innovation in youth resiliency and education research. Based on a belief that high-quality programming can build youth social-emotional resiliency and contribute to school and life success, Dr. Gil G. Noam founded the institute in 1999 as a collaboration between the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Medical School before relocating to McLean Hospital. By conducting and disseminating actionable research and evaluation, ISRY aims to support the well-being and mental health of young people and the adults who support them.

ISRY is a research lab at McLean Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School. We conduct evaluations, carry out research projects, develop tools, and convene leaders across research and practice. ISRY’s research examines the factors that impact the social-emotional wellbeing of youth and also the connection between science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and the social-emotional competencies highlighted by the Clover model.

In October 2020, the PEAR Institute at McLean Hospital completed a spinoff of the service and support work. The new benefit corporation, PEAR Inc. continues to provide the Holistic Student Assessment, Common Instrument Suite, Dimensions of Success training, group interventions, coaching, and support to schools and youth-serving organizations. PEAR has continued to develop new offerings, while ISRY remains focused on translational research and evaluation.