LSU Engineering Researchers Secure $5.5M in NIH Funding for Breakthrough Work in Cancer, Medical Imaging and Mental Health Technology

LSU Engineering faculty have secured over $5.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to advance research in biomedical science and digital health. A significant portion of this investment is dedicated to developing a scalable virtual reality platform designed to automate behavioral therapy for children with ADHD. This initiative reflects a growing trend in the mental health technology sector toward using immersive environments and real-time monitoring to expand access to care while reducing the need for constant clinician oversight.

LSU Computer Science Associate Professor David C. Shepherd is leading the virtual reality (VR) engineering and systems development for an approximately $1.8 million NIH-funded collaborative project with Rutgers University. Funded through a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) R61/R33 award, the initiative aims to improve behavioral treatment access for children with ADHD by creating a scalable VR platform. The system is designed to automate key components of behavioral therapy, allowing for effective intervention without the necessity of continuous clinician oversight, which could significantly expand the reach of mental health services.

The VR platform functions by placing students in a structured virtual environment that monitors attention and on-task behavior in real time using keyboard and mouse interaction data. To facilitate behavioral change, the system provides immediate visual feedback through a green-yellow-red signaling interface paired with automated reinforcement strategies. These tools are specifically engineered to improve focus and task completion, providing a data-driven approach to traditional behavioral therapy techniques within a digital setting.

The project recently transitioned from its initial R61 feasibility phase, which focused on algorithm development and feedback system refinement, to the larger R33 clinical trial phase. This next stage, sanctioned after a successful NIH milestone review, will involve a study of 252 participants across multiple intervention groups over an eight-week treatment period. Shepherd’s role in the project encompasses the VR engineering, the development of behavioral monitoring algorithms, and the overall systems integration required for the trial.

These efforts are part of a broader $5.5 million NIH funding package awarded to LSU Engineering faculty for transformative research in digital health and biomedical science. Other projects include a $1.875 million grant for spatial lipidomics in cancer research and another $1.875 million for developing metal-free MRI contrast agents. For the mental health technology sector, these interdisciplinary projects highlight the increasing role of engineering and computing in creating innovative, technology-assisted therapies that improve patient care and healthcare access.