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Mental Health Translational Research Building

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First-Of-Its-Kind Research Building For Mental Health

Research Building Inquiries

HMHI is working to provide up-to-date information about the Mental Health Translational Research Building. If you have questions regarding the planning, programming, or construction, we want to hear from you.

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The Utah Mental Health Translational Research Building at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) will be a transformative facility dedicated to innovating mental health research and clinical care. It will create a space for researchers and educators to address critical mental health issues in collaboration with experts in science, artificial intelligence, public policy, business and law.

The purpose of the Translational Research Building is to lead the way in solving mental health challenges like suicide, child and young adult mental health, rural mental health, stigma, workforce shortages, and the psychiatric and social factors created by COVID-19. Educators and researchers from universities and colleges across the state will use the facility and partner with HMHI on research, treatment, and training initiatives. The new facility will also allow for HMHI to expand child and young adult mental health treatment programs to better meet the needs of Utah families.

The project is made possible by funding from both the State of Utah and the Utah philanthropic community. The vision of this public-private partnership is to provide the people of Utah with the best mental health care in the country and lead the nation in mental health research and treatment.

This is a tremendous example of the power of state and community partnership that is laying the foundation to truly transform mental health care for the people of Utah. This new space will help Utah move toward the forefront of American psychiatry and mental health care.
Mark Rapaport, MD, CEO Huntsman Mental Health Institute

Key Information about the Research Building

  • First institution in the nation to co-locate mental health researchers with experts in science, artificial intelligence, public policy, business and law
  • Designed to be a 185,000 square foot, multi-floor building with dedicated spaces for wet labs, dry labs, administration, outreach & education
  • Will house the world's only 7 Tesla MRI dedicated to brain research and innovation clinical innovations
  • Supported by $90 million appropriated by the Utah State Legislature and $65 million in philanthropic funding
  • Construction to begin in 2023

Guiding Principles

The planning, programming, or construction teams for the Translational Research Building will guided by the following principles: 

Acquisition & Retention

Develop a world class, state of the art building & program to attract & retain the best people in the world.

Education

Enhance the University's educational mission by fostering curiosity & creating an environment of learning.

User Experience

Stimulate collaboration across multiple disciplines & create a user experience that is inclusive, exciting, & attractive.

Mental & Physical Health

Support well-being for occupants & the community through sustainable design & new ways of working.

Collaboration

Support a full range of collaboration modalities with all participants both within & beyond this building.

Workplace Culture

Inspiration

Inspire innovation & creativity through an adaptable space that supports continually refining & learning. 

Community

Create community engagement and de-stigmatizing mental illness through art, science, and interdisciplinary programs.

Where Will the Building Be Located?

University of Utah Research Park

Behind Huntsman Mental Health Institute
501 Chipeta Way
Salt Lake, UT 84108

News Coverage

Official Press Release

First-Of-Its-Kind Translational Research Building for Mental Health

Read More

In the News

"Mental health is a surging problem amid COVID-19, especially for kids. What's Utah doing to meet the need?"

Read more on KSL.com

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