Melanie Morse, PhD, (left) and Emily Gonzalez, PhD
Emily Gonzalez, PhD, and Melanie Morse, PhD, in the Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, have been awarded a Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment seed grant to pilot an innovative study exploring virtual reality (VR) as a tool to reduce anxiety in children and adolescents.
The study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of using the Floreo VR platform with neurotypical pediatric patients ages 8 to 18. While VR has shown success in treating anxiety in adults and in children with developmental conditions, this will be the first study to evaluate the impact of Floreo on anxiety in youth without neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
With mental health needs among children continuing to rise—and many families facing barriers to accessing care—this research has the potential to offer an engaging, affordable alternative for those without consistent access to licensed providers.
“We’re still in the midst of a youth mental health crisis,” said Dr. Morse, a pediatric psychologist who works with the nephrology, allergy and immunology, and neurodevelopmental and behavioral pediatrics teams. “We’re hopeful that by developing symptom-specific, immersive tools that can be scaled and made free or low-cost, we can make a meaningful difference.”
The findings from this pilot will lay the groundwork for larger-scale studies and future funding proposals focused on expanding access to mental health care through digital innovation.
“We see this as a first step towards building additional behavioral and emotional health support for children not only at UVA, but across Virginia,” stated Dr. Gonzalez, a bilingual pediatric psychologist caring for patients seen by the hematology and oncology service, and neurodevelopmental and behavioral pediatrics.
Gonzalez and Morse are optimistic about the potential for the study to transform pediatric mental health care in Virginia. They plan to start enrolling participants in September 2025. For more information about the study contact Dr. Emily Gonzalez at REG6V@uvahealth.org or Dr. Melanie Morse at smf8fr@uvahealth.org.
Filed Under: Research