Center for Responsible and Effective AI Tools to Improve PTSD Care
Official title: Center for Responsible and Effective AI Technology Enhancement Treatments for PTSD
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11392694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford-led project uses safe, private, and user-friendly AI tools to help deliver evidence-based PTSD therapies to more people, especially in public and rural settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,274,387 |
| NIH project number | 5P50MH139450-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with PTSD who would benefit from evidence-based therapies and access to care improvements through AI-supported delivery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to care infrastructure or those in settings not implementing AI tools may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
PTSD is common and costly, and many who could benefit don’t get evidence-based therapies. This grant plans to test how large language models and other AI tools can support administrators, therapists, and patients to deliver proven PTSD treatments more effectively and accessibly. The project emphasizes safety, privacy, user experience, and real-world implementation to ensure the AI supports care without compromising care quality. The work will build and evaluate a framework (READI) for deploying AI in mental health settings, focusing on scalable, responsible integration in academic medical centers and community care settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive timely, higher-quality PTSD care through more accessible and well-implemented digital tools.
How similar studies have gone: Previous AI deployments in healthcare show promise but require careful safety, privacy, and implementation planning; this project builds on those lessons with a structured framework.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wiltsey Stirman, Shannon — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Wiltsey Stirman, Shannon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how PTSD affects self-control and brain function
Researchers are studying how PTSD changes the brain’s control over thoughts and actions, and how this might affect Veterans’ daily lives and responses to treatment.
-
Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
-
Treating PTSD and opioid use disorder in residential care with Written Exposure Therapy (WEST)
A short, patient-friendly plan to adapt a proven PTSD therapy for people with opioid use disorder in residential treatment and test its practicality and impact.
-
Dynamic PTSD-Related Cognitive Risk in Aging WTC Responders
This project follows World Trade Center responders as they age to understand how PTSD symptoms relate to changes in thinking skills over time.
-
Identifying brain proteins linked to PTSD and alcohol use disorder
Researchers are studying brain proteins that may contribute to PTSD and alcohol use disorder in US veterans to find new ways to help people who struggle with both conditions.
-
Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy for Veterans with Social Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms
A clinical trial tests whether a flexible brain-behavior therapy helps veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms feel better and engage more in daily life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.