The Center for Behavioral Health and Technology

06/11/2026

Exciting news from our collaborator, Dr. Jamie Zoellner, and her research team at UVA!

The National Cancer Institute-funded weSIPsmarter study is helping rural families across Appalachia and the South reduce sugary drink consumption through an innovative digital health program delivered in partnership with Head Start programs.

Because sugary drinks are linked to increased risks of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, helping families establish healthier habits early can have a lasting impact on lifelong health.

The study is currently active in multiple states and is seeking additional rural Head Start programs interested in participating.

Learn more about this important work:
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1131466

Media coverage:
https://www.29news.com/2026/06/09/uva-program-helps-families-cut-back-sugary-drinks/

University of Virginia researchers are testing a digital program designed to help rural families across Appalachia and the South reduce their consumption of sugary drinks.

03/17/2026

We are pleased to share a new collaborative publication from our team in Internet Interventions.

In this study, we examined whether stepped human support influenced engagement with and outcomes from our internet-delivered insomnia intervention for older adults (SHUTi-OASIS). Findings suggest that most older participants engaged with the program as instructed without the need for human support, and outcomes were comparable between those who received stepped support and those who did not—highlighting the potential of highly engaging digital interventions to address older adults’ healthcare needs.

Read the article here:

02/19/2026

🎉 Huge congratulations to Kara Wiseman, PhD, MPH, on being featured again in the Medicine in Motion series! Your insightful research and dedication are making a real impact in the field, from elevating important public health conversations to advancing behavioral science. It’s inspiring to see your work celebrated and shared — well deserved! 👏📣

My research is focused on the development and evaluation of scalable health behavior change interventions, primarily focused on smoking cessation and alcohol use. — Kara Wiseman, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences   To watch more Research in Motion videos in this ...

02/12/2026

Congrats Kara!! Kara Wiseman, PhD, MPH, Wins Society of Behavioral Medicine’s 2026 Leading the Narrative Award
Medicine in Motion

Kara Wiseman, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, wrote an article last year for the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) about the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on alcohol as a risk factor for cancer. The article received significant attention and views...

02/05/2026

Kelly Shaffer, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences, in Medicine in Motion News as part of the Research in Motion series. Research in Motion: https://news.med.virginia.edu/research/research-in-motion-kelly-shaffer-phd/?j=4490088&sfmc_sub=7197111&l=35_HTML&u=68374285&mid=100026982&jb=1005

At our center, we develop internet-delivered mental health programs designed to bring evidence-based care to scale. Dr. Shaffer’s work focuses on supporting cancer survivors and family caregivers, addressing critical areas including sleep, stress, and sexual health to improve quality of life during and beyond cancer treatment.

We are proud to highlight this impactful work and its contribution to advancing accessible, real-world mental health care.

Watch the full Research in Motion video and explore the series through the School of Medicine.

In our center, we build internet delivered programs that bring mental health to scale, and my work in particular focuses on helping cancer survivors and family caregivers with things like sleep, stress, and sexual health. — Kelly Shaffer, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sc...

12/02/2025

Congratulations to Meghan Mattos, PhD, and Wen You, PhD, on receiving a 2025 UVA Brain Institute Transformative Neuroscience Pilot Grant! Their project — “Enhancing Participation and Retention in Dementia Research: Reducing Fatigue and Promoting Cognitive Autonomy” — tackles a critical challenge in AD prevention studies by using machine learning to better understand mental fatigue and support long‑term engagement in research. Their work exemplifies thoughtful, human‑centered neuroscience research. Looking forward to seeing how their findings advance dementia research and improve participant experience. https://braininstitute.virginia.edu/news/2025-transformative-neuroscience-pilot-grant-awards
braininstitute.virginia.edubraininstitute.virginia.edu

2025 Transformative Neuroscience Pilot Grant Awards | Brain Institute
The Brain Institute is pleased to announce the 2025 Transformative Neuroscience Pilot Grant awardees. (79 kB)

The Brain Institute is pleased to announce the 2025 Transformative Neuroscience Pilot Grant awardees.

12/01/2025

A huge thank you to Dr. Andrew Berry for being our November Seminar Series speaker.

Dr. Berry, from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, shared an inspiring talk on designing technology-enabled services for people living with multiple chronic conditions. His work focuses on making health care more responsive to what patients and families value most, and his presentation sparked wonderful conversation and reflection.

We’re grateful for his time, expertise, and passion for improving patient-centered care. Thank you, Dr. Berry, for an excellent session.

10/17/2025

Thank you to Dr. Joanna Arch, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, for her insightful talk on applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support adults facing cancer. Her REVITALIZE and Valued Living studies highlight how behavioral science can meaningfully improve quality of life for those coping with serious illness.

10/16/2025

Join Us Tomorrow!

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Joanna Arch, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, as our guest speaker tomorrow, Friday, October 17 at 10am.

Dr. Arch is a leading researcher and clinician whose work has shaped our understanding of anxiety, stress, and emotional distress—particularly among individuals coping with serious illness. Her groundbreaking research has advanced mindfulness- and acceptance-based behavioral therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Tomorrow’s talk will highlight Dr. Arch’s work applying ACT to support adults with cancer, including two major NIH-funded studies:

The REVITALIZE Study, a multi-site randomized controlled trial testing a telehealth ACT-based intervention to reduce fatigue among women with late-stage ovarian cancer (in collaboration with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute).

The Valued Living Study, a five-year trial evaluating an online ACT-based program to help metastatic cancer patients manage anxiety and depression and engage in advance care planning.

We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a deeply insightful presentation.
🔗 Zoom link: https://uvahealth-org.zoom.us/j/91707670428?pwd=zdDCG7aeRP5Zt3826gtNiYA8GVzTd8.1

10/06/2025

It's inspiring to see Dr. Ritterband's leadership and the continued impact of CBHT's work in advancing evidence-based digital health solutions.
Looking forward to Digital Health: From the Academic World to the Real World Monday, October 13, 3:30-4:30pm at Kerr Hall 2001.