The UW Medicine Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions is funding ten new projects that will either test innovative ways to apply artificial intelligence for behavioral health, or develop innovations in discharge and community integration after inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.
“Artificial intelligence has the potential to significantly expand the reach and impact of behavioral health interventions, but only if used ethically and responsibly,” says Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, MA, director of the Garvey Institute and professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. “We want to learn how best to use these rapidly evolving tools that will ultimately allow more people to get the care they need.”
“We also know that the successful transition from an inpatient hospitalization to a patient’s community is extremely important for long-term health outcomes, but the process is complex and challenging. We think it is possible to improve the experience for patients, their loved ones, and the workforce.”
Faculty and staff involved in the 58 Innovation Grants funded to date come from 11 UW schools and colleges, over 25 departments and divisions, and all three UW campuses.
“I am excited to see how these projects will ‘move the needle’ on finding solutions to some of our community’s most difficult brain health challenges,” says Unützer.
The 2025 Funded Innovations
- Making generative artificial intelligence safe for people with mental health conditions
Project lead: Tim Althoff, PhD (Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, College of Engineering) - Developing an artificial intelligence digital navigator system to support patients’ use of technology-based interventions
Project lead: Dror Ben-Zeev, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine) - Using Natural Language Processing to risk-stratify inpatient psychiatry conflict and violence
Project lead: Taylor “Mac” Black, MD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine) - Using Large Language Models to identify video platform interactions indicating suicide risk
Project lead: Trevor Cohen, MBChB, PhD, FACMI (Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, UW School of Medicine) - Strengthening financial literacy for people living with serious mental illness
Project lead: Kate Comtois, PhD; Becky Sladek, MS (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine) - Improving treatment strategies and clinical outcomes in patients with first-episode psychosis and substance use disorders
Project leads: Matt Iles-Shih, MD, MPH; John Eun, MD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine) - Partnering with patients to re-envision psychiatric hospitalization and discharge
Project lead: Wanda Pratt, PhD, FACMI (Information School) - Developing a hospital-based treatment engagement program for Alcohol Use Disorder
Project lead: Tessa Steel, MD, MPH (Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep) - Optimizing telemental health with live artificial intelligence clinical scaffolding and feedback
Project leads: Justin Tauscher, PhD; Dror Ben-Zeev, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UW School of Medicine) - Evaluating large language models in conveying determinants of mental health
Project leads: Xinyi Zhou, PhD; Tim Althoff, PhD (Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, College of Engineering)
Read more on the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions website, plus find a complete list of projects, collaborators and descriptions.
The Institute was founded in 2019 with a $50 million donation to UW Medicine by local philanthropists Lynn and Mike Garvey with a goal to fast-track treatments for patients with mental health, addiction and other brain health problems.
