With smartphones, wearable computing, and the “internet of things,” the simple act of living our lives generates a tremendous amount of data – data that carries information about our physical, social, and emotional well-being and that could be used to improve the health and mental health of our patients. The Department is launching a new Behavioral Science and Technology (BeST) Program to develop and implement solutions to the challenges of mental health treatment through innovative technological applications. The BeST Program will leverage existing intervention expertise within PBSCI in areas such as Addiction, PTSD, Depression, and Collaborative Care and build from current, innovative projects using technology to support, enhance, and build capacity for high-quality clinical intervention.

A key focus for BeST will be interdisciplinary team science that integrates UW colleagues from Engineering, Computer Science, and Bioinformatics as well as technology industry colleagues. Dave Atkins, PhD, will serve as Director of this new initiative. Dr. Atkins is a clinical psychologist by training with expertise in applied methodology and statistics. His interdisciplinary research team applies tools and methodologies from engineering and computer science to understanding and evaluating behavioral interventions. Dr. Atkins collaborates closely with engineers, computer scientists, and data scientists, effectively using his background in both clinical intervention and applied methodology to work with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds.