Sultan Lab for Mental Health Informatics
The lab studies psychiatric treatment and substance use through epidemiology and clinical informatics, with a focus on adolescents and young adults.
I direct the lab at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Our work connects questions from clinical practice with analyses of surveys, claims, and electronic health records. View the institutional lab page.
Research areas
ADHD treatment and medication safety
We examine prescribing patterns, comorbidity, and outcomes among young people with ADHD. Publications include antipsychotic prescribing, adverse behaviors and comorbidity, and an invited editorial interpreting ADHD medication research.
Cannabis and adolescent mental health
Our research examines associations between cannabis use and psychosocial outcomes, alongside retailer and product practices through the Cannabis Access and Safety in New York study. See our 2026 Pediatrics paper and 2023 JAMA Network Open paper.
Clinical informatics and digital interventions
We collaborate on natural language processing of clinical records and the presentation of clinical information. MIND examines a narrative dashboard for clinicians. PAWS is an investigational intervention project in development.
Additional interests
Related work examines clozapine monitoring, medication nomenclature, and evolutionary perspectives on ADHD.
Methods
Our work uses observational study designs, epidemiologic analysis, natural language processing, and clinician-informed evaluation of digital tools. We select methods to fit the question and the limits of each data source.
Publications
Selected publications and commentary · PubMed author search · Google Scholar profile and citation metrics
Research support
Research support has included the NIDA institutional career development program (K12), NIMH research training (T32), an AACAP pilot research award, and Columbia institutional support.
See the research support overview and publications for context.
People and collaborations
Ryan S. Sultan, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, directs the lab. My collaborators and mentors include researchers in psychiatry, substance use, epidemiology, and biomedical informatics.
For the institutional team directory, visit the Columbia lab page. See also collaborations and my training history.
Data and research resources
Published and developing work uses national surveys, administrative claims, and electronic health records. Dataset access and computing arrangements depend on the study and its approvals.
Research and training inquiries
For academic collaboration or training interests, contact me about research. Include your institution, background, and the research area you would like to discuss.
Related information
Research program · Publications · Research support · Curriculum vitae · Public engagement
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