NAMED PROFESSORSHIP

Della Suantio Lee Professorship in Mental Health and Digital Science

About This Professorship

The Della Suantio Lee Professorship in Mental Health and Digital Science accelerates the use of AI, data science, and digital technologies to better understand, detect, and treat mental health conditions.

This endowed professorship pioneers digital diagnostics, predictive tools, and technology-enabled therapeutics that expand mental health care beyond clinical bottlenecks — reaching people earlier, more equitably, and at population scale.

WHY IT MATTERS

Digital Innovation Can Close the Care Gap

The Access Crisis

Mental health demand far exceeds clinical capacity. Wait times stretch for months, stigma prevents help-seeking.

AI Enables Early Detection

Machine learning models can identify patterns in speech, behaviour, and physiology that humans miss.

Scale Without Sacrifice

AI chatbots provide 24/7 support. VR therapy simulates scenarios impossible in real life. These tools don't replace clinicians — they free them to focus on complex cases.

Inaugural Professorship Holder

Associate Professor Tan Tin Wee (2025 – 2027)

Associate Professor Tan Tin Wee serves as the inaugural holder of the Della Suantio Lee Professorship, leading the Centre’s emerging Digital Mental Health research pillar.

About the D.S. Lee Foundation

This professorship was made possible by the D.S. Lee Foundation, established by Dr Della Suantio Lee — a philanthropist whose belief that “to give is better than to receive” has shaped her life’s work and the foundation’s mission.

Through the D.S. Lee Foundation, Dr Della Lee has championed innovation, education, and research that improve lives — from digital mental health to broader initiatives that empower communities and expand access to care. Her commitment to giving has created opportunities for countless individuals who might otherwise have been overlooked.

Creating a Lasting Impact

Endowed professorships provide the stable, long-term support necessary to pursue bold, high-risk research that may take years to mature. Digital mental health is one such frontier — requiring rigorous validation, ethical oversight, and cultural adaptation before innovations can be deployed safely at scale.

If you are interested in establishing a named professorship or supporting digital innovation in mental health, we welcome conversations about how your philanthropic vision can align with our mission.