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Psychiatry Research Division signs MOU with South Korea company

Leaders at UNMC and Hippo T&C – a South Korean company that has developed ADHD diagnostic and therapeutic tools – signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, October 21 at UNMC. The MOU is a commitment between the two parties to continue collaborating on research involving the use of Virtual Reality tools in diagnosing behavioral health issues.

The MOU was signed by UNMC Interim Chancellor Dele Davies, MD, and Tai Chung, PhD. Dr. Chung is the founder and CEO of Hippo T&C. Howard Liu, MD, MBA, Chair of the UNMC Department of Psychiatry, and Jane Maza, PhD, Interim Vice Chancellor, UNMC Department of Academic Affairs, and Soonjo Hwang, MD, Research Division Director for the UNMC Department of Psychiatry, were also at the signing.  

(Right to left) Soonjo Hwang, MD, discusses the collaboration between UNMC and South Korea-based HIPPO T&C with Howard Liu, MD, MBA; Tai Chung, PhD; Dele Davies, MD; and Jane Meza, PhD, on October 21, 2024 at Wittson Hall.

“By having this MOU, I believe it’s the first steppingstone to expand the relationship between UNMC and Hippo T&C,” Dr. Chung said.

The collaboration began in 2023 when Dr. Hwang traveled to South Korea to visit Hippo T&C. Dr. Hwang and his research team begin work on a clinical study titled, “Diagnostics and Treatment Programs using Various A.I. Technology as well as Virtual Reality.” In the study, children and adolescents use VR tools to potentially diagnosis behavioral health issues.

The tools include VR reality assessment devices (Meta 3), Attakare-D – a innovative digital diagnostic tool that could analyze children’s behavioral data in Virtual Reality using Artificial Intelligence – and Fitbit trackers.

Dr. Chung has made two trips from South Korea to Omaha. He also visited in October 2023 to see how Dr. Hwang’s clinical study was progressing. Dr. Chung said he was extremely impressed with the UNMC research environment during his first visit.

On October 21, 2024, Dr. Chung said his goals for the project are to continue research on patients struggling with mental disorders and anxiety-related issues as well as expand into other critical behavioral health issues.

“I believe this collaboration with UNMC will help us reach these goals,” Dr. Chung said. “The goals are very difficult, but I believe if everyone works hard, we can realize these dreams,”

Dr. Davies said this collaboration fits within UNMC’s mission of transforming lives with extraordinary patient care and research.

“As we look at what we can do to help patients with psychological disorders and find ways for patients to better live in their communities I believe this collaboration will play a big role,” Dr. Davies said. “It’s a unique opportunity and we’re very excited.”

Dr. Davies said there are also opportunities to exchange faculty, students, and staff between the two companies and country.

The ongoing partnership also includes SungKyunKwan University and Samsung Medical Center in South Korea.

Dr. Hwang and Dr. Liu visited Hippo T&C from July 1-4, 2024.

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