Project to Address Mental Health Issues in Prince George’s County

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) — Bowie State University has been awarded a $99,999 subaward grant from the National Institutes of Health’s Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity (AIM-AHEAD) Program. The funding will support the establishment of a new AI and Machine Learning Health Research Laboratory on campus—marking a pivotal step in advancing health equity through technology-driven research. 

In its first year, the lab will focus on building its technical infrastructure and assembling a cross-disciplinary team of faculty, staff and students with deep expertise in artificial intelligence, data science and public health. The second year will concentrate on conducting applied research. 

Bowie State’s AI/Machine Learning Health Research Laboratory will explore the social and demographic risk factors contributing to persistent mental health challenges across Prince George’s County. By applying advanced machine learning algorithms to large-scale data sets, researchers aim to uncover hidden patterns and predictors of behavioral health issues that often go undetected in conventional clinical settings. 

“Implementing AI technologies to address issues will improve health in Prince George’s County and help pinpoint high-risk populations before they develop chronic conditions which can enable targeted preventive care and early detection,” said Dr. Melissa Duchene-Kelly, the research project lead. “Our interdisciplinary team approach will bring together experts from computer science, psychology, public health and other disciplines to identify and create interventions for individuals struggling with behavioral health.” 

By engaging a wide range of subject matter experts, the project will support the development of personalized intervention strategies and digital therapeutic tools aimed at enhancing treatment effectiveness and expanding access to quality care. 

“This innovative approach holds tremendous promise for improving health outcomes in our community and establishing Bowie State as a leader in AI-driven health research,” said Duchene-Kelly. 

The AIM-AHEAD project is a joint effort between Bowie State University and the University of Texas Health Science Center and is part of a national initiative to boost the participation and representation of underrepresented researchers in the evolving fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

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About Bowie State University
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. Bowie State has earned the ‘Research College and University’ designation in the 2025 Carnegie Research Activity Classification. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.