Sam Nallaperuma-Herzberg
Assistant Research Professor at the Department of Computer Science
“The Edward Mallen prize has supported my research at a critical stage, allowing me to dedicate more time to advancing the project.”
My research sits at the intersection of digital mental health, wearable technology and artificial intelligence.
I am interested in understanding how data from everyday interactions and wearable devices can be used to better monitor mental wellbeing and identify early signs of changes in mental health. In particular, my work explores how AI can help detect patterns associated with depression, stress and sleep disturbances, enabling more timely and personalised support for individuals who may be at risk.
Mental health conditions such as depression often fluctuate over time, and many people experience periods of worsening symptoms between appointments or before they seek professional help. My research aims to investigate how technology can help bridge this gap by providing continuous, non-invasive monitoring, generating insights that may support earlier intervention. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to the development of tools that complement existing mental health services and improve access to support for those who need it.
Receiving the Edward Mallen Prize was both a great honour and a significant source of encouragement. As an early-career researcher, it was particularly meaningful to receive recognition from an organisation that values innovative approaches to improving mental health outcomes. The Prize has helped accelerate my research by providing support at a critical stage of development allowing me to dedicate more time to advancing the project, strengthening collaborations and exploring how emerging AI methods can be translated into meaningful mental health applications.
The award has created momentum around the work, opening conversations with researchers and clinicians who share an interest in improving mental health care through technology. This has been invaluable in refining research questions and identifying future directions, helping ensure that the work remains grounded in real-world needs.
For me, the award represents more than financial support; it was a vote of confidence in the potential of my research and its future impact. Mental health remains one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time and knowing that others believe in the importance of this work has been incredibly motivating.
Going forward, I plan to continue investigating how AI and digital technologies can be used responsibly and effectively to support mental wellbeing, with a particular focus on prediction, monitoring and early intervention. I hope this work will contribute to the development of accessible tools that can support individuals before they reach crisis point, helping to improve outcomes while complementing existing healthcare services. The Edward Mallen Prize has played an important role in helping to shape that vision and providing the confidence and support needed to pursue it.
Dr Nallaperuma-Herzberg.
Dr Nallaperuma-Herzberg with her colleagues at the Brain Twin project, which explores simulations of the brain to generate adaptive treatments based on therapy depending on the patient’s brain function.