Center for Data Analytics, Innovation, and Rigor

The Child Mind Institute’s Center for Data Analytics, Innovation, and Rigor (DAIR) is committed to improving accessibility and quality of mental health care. We do so by pursuing projects that have long been inaccessible due to their interdisciplinary nature and technological complexity, building cross-functional teams to create innovative solutions. We also critically re-examine established practices, adapting cutting-edge science across domains to develop novel tools that bridge technological gaps in research and clinical environments. We believe that new solutions are needed to address the global mental health epidemic — and have assembled a diverse team of data science professionals to rethink current practices and develop data-driven solutions.

The team’s research agenda involves developing novel computational analyses and experimental techniques to advance scientific understanding of brain function and mental health. We develop open-source neuroimaging tools for more efficient neuroimaging data processing while ensuring reliable and replicable results. Additionally, we conduct computational analysis of fMRI data to study brain network interactions.

The team also includes an engineering core that specializes in addressing real-world clinical challenges. We develop models and tools to advance the fundamental understanding of the brain — working with clinical experts at the Child Mind Institute to improve the quality of front-line care, produce globally accessible resources, and engage with communities in need. Our strength lies in our ability to identify the right data needed to properly understand and address a question, and then to analyze that data using state-of-the-art tools and techniques.