Two of Utah's prominent families have joined forces to address the state's mental health crisis through a $35 million investment. On Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation announced a gift from Gail Miller and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation to fund the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Translational Research Building, a facility designed to accelerate mental health research and bring new treatments to patients faster.
Advancing Mental Health Research
The $35 million investment will be used to complete the 185,000-square-foot facility in the University of Utah's Research Park. The funds will equip the building with advanced labs, imaging technology, and the resources necessary to recruit and retain top physician-scientists. The facility, located just west of the Huntsman Family Foundation building, is scheduled to open in fall 2027.
Bridging Lab and Patient Care
The building is designed to shorten the path from the laboratory to the patient by utilizing research "hubs." These hubs will bring together scientists, clinicians, and experts from various fields, including artificial intelligence, public policy, business, and law. The facility will also house a 7-tesla MRI, a scanner described as more than twice as powerful as a standard hospital MRI.
Scope of Research Focus
Research conducted within the new building will focus on a wide range of mental health topics, including suicide prevention, addiction, youth mental health, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and maternal mental health. In the field of suicide prevention, researchers will utilize the world's largest data set on suicide deaths to identify individuals at highest risk. Additionally, the building will host the Utah site for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a long-term study following nearly 12,000 young people from ages 9 and 10 into young adulthood.
Innovative Treatment Methods
The building will also facilitate testing for new treatment modalities, such as psychedelic medicine for hard-to-treat conditions and focused ultrasound, a noninvasive method used to reach deep brain circuits linked to addiction and depression. Researchers also plan to use artificial intelligence to help clinicians identify patients needing assistance earlier and to reduce the workload on healthcare providers.
Historical Funding Context
The investment builds upon significant previous funding for mental health initiatives at the University of Utah. The Huntsman family founded the Huntsman Mental Health Institute with a $150 million gift in 2019. Additionally, the Utah Legislature appropriated $90 million for the translational research building in 2021. Construction on the facility began in October 2024, according to a news release.
Personal Impact and Vision
During the announcement on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, Gail Miller, owner and co-founder of the Larry H. Miller Company, spoke about the personal importance of mental health care. Miller, who noted that mental health impacts every family, shared that she had previously sought therapy to find her way back after feeling lost in her roles as a wife and mother. "Mental health care needs both compassion for the person in front of us and a commitment to keep learning what we can to help," Miller told the gathered crowd.
Rising Mental Health Needs
The announcement comes at a time when mental health resources are under significant pressure. University of Utah President Taylor Randall stated that the university has seen a nearly 50% increase in capacity needs for mental health first responders during the current fall season. Data cited by Randall indicates that approximately one-third of university students struggle with anxiety, another third struggle with depression, and 10% contemplate suicide regularly.
