Read more about the Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health (NCAMH) 2025 here: Congratulations to the Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health’s selected projects
The VinUni–Illinois Smart Health Center (VISHC) proudly celebrates the achievement of Pham Quoc Cuong, a PhD student in Computer Science at VinUniversity and Researcher at VISHC, who together with his team (Ha Thi Thanh Huong, PhD | Pham Huy Hieu, PhD | Le Tran Hoang Duy, MPhil | Pham Quoc Cuong | Phan Ngoc Minh Thu | Nguyen Khac Hung | Nguyen Hoang Kim Long | Bui Thi Nhu Thuan | Duong Thi Thuy Dung, MD) has been awarded a $60,000 research grant under the Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health (NCAMH) 2025, funded by IBRO x Wellcome.
Their project introduces innovative and scalable AI-driven mental health interventions designed to improve early detection, accessibility, and care for people in Vietnam and beyond.
Before pursuing his PhD, Cuong earned his B.Eng. in Computer Science at Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) and his M.Eng. in Computer Science at Ritsumeikan University, Japan, through the prestigious MEXT Scholarship.
His diverse research experience spans several international projects, including:
Now pursuing his PhD at VinUni and conducting research at VISHC, Cuong is supervised by Dr. Pham Huy Hieu (VISHC) and works under joint mentorship with international collaborators. His research focuses on advancing AI-powered health monitoring systems and developing digital tools for mental health assessment.
Cuong serves as Technical Lead and Project Coordinator of the NCAMH-funded initiative, which aims to transform mental health monitoring and intervention through technology. The project focuses on:
This approach enhances early detection and personalized care, while also contributing valuable local data for global neuroscience research.
Cuong’s journey demonstrates how international training, mentorship, and perseverance can translate into meaningful scientific and societal outcomes. Under the guidance of Dr. Pham Huy Hieu (VISHC) and through collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, Cuong’s leadership has been instrumental in securing and implementing this competitive international grant.
This $60,000 award not only accelerates progress in mental health research for Vietnam but also showcases the country’s potential to contribute to global digital mental health innovation.
Guided by dedicated mentors and driven by purpose, Cuong and his peers are paving the way for a new generation of Vietnamese scientists to make their mark on global health innovation.
