Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS)

What Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS) does

CHESS is a multidisciplinary research center housed within the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Founded in 1989 by Dr. David H. Gustafson, it develops and evaluates eHealth interventions and process improvement solutions for behavioral health. Core products include A-CHESS, a smartphone app providing 24/7 recovery support (with High Risk Locator GPS triggers, Panic Button, and Clinician Dashboard) for individuals with substance use disorder; FAM-CHESS, a family-focused version pairing heavy drinkers with a family partner; ElderTree, a voice-activated eHealth system for older adults with multiple chronic conditions; and NIATx, a Plan-Do-Study-Act-based process improvement model for behavioral health organizations. Underlying technology combines ecological momentary assessment/intervention, location analytics, and predictive analytics rooted in four decades of CHESS research.

CHESS operates on a non-commercial, grant-funded model. Since 2006 it has received over $150 million from federal agencies (NIH, NIDA, SAMHSA, HRSA) and foundations (W.K. Kellogg, Robert Wood Johnson). It earns no product revenue; the A-CHESS app and NIATx toolkit are licensed or made available at no cost to treatment organizations. Revenue mechanics are grant-driven: CHESS competes for cooperative agreements and R-series grants, then deploys principal investigators and technical assistance staff on multi-year projects. The center also manages several federally designated networks (Great Lakes ATTC, MHTTC, and PTTC; CMHIS Midwest Hub; Opioid Response Network; BHE-TAC; JCOIN Hub; NIDA CTN NorthStar Node) that provide free training and technical assistance to behavioral health organizations across HHS Regions 5 and 7.

Primary customers/beneficiaries are behavioral health treatment organizations, addiction treatment providers, the behavioral health workforce (training and technical assistance recipients), and end-user populations including individuals with substance use disorder, justice-involved individuals with OUD, and older adults with chronic conditions. Research collaborations span universities (Marquette, Wayne State, UMKC, George Mason, UW-Madison), academic medical centers (Yale, Hennepin, Medical College of Wisconsin), and federal partners (NIH HEAL, NIDA, SAMHSA). CHESS does not have outside shareholders; its activities are administered under the public University of Wisconsin System.

Name

Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS)

Legal name

Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies

Website

https://center.chess.wisc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CHESS is a UW-Madison research center that develops and tests eHealth interventions — notably the A-CHESS addiction recovery app, ElderTree for older adults, and the NIATx process improvement model — and delivers federally funded training and technical assistance to behavioral health organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Research Grants: CHESS operates as a university research center funded primarily through competitive federal grants from agencies including NIH, SAMHSA, HRSA, NIDA, and the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research. Since 2006, CHESS has received over $150 million to support research activities.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CHESS is a multidisciplinary research center that develops, evaluates, and disseminates eHealth interventions and process improvement solutions for behavioral health. Its core offerings include the A-CHESS and FAM-CHESS smartphone recovery support apps, the ElderTree voice-controlled eHealth system for older adults, and the NIATx process improvement model adopted by thousands of behavioral health organizations. The center also manages a portfolio of federally-funded technology transfer and technical assistance centers that provide free training and implementation support to the behavioral health workforce.

Product overview

CHESS operates as a research center at UW-Madison that develops and offers a portfolio of eHealth interventions and process improvement solutions for behavioral health. The core products include A-CHESS (smartphone app for addiction recovery with High Risk Locator and Clinician Dashboard), FAM-CHESS (family-focused version), ElderTree (eHealth system for older adults with chronic conditions), and NIATx (process improvement model for behavioral health organizations). The center also manages multiple federally-funded technology transfer centers and technical assistance networks (GL-ATTC, GL-PTTC, CMHIS Midwest Hub, ORN, BHE-TAC, JCOIN) that provide training, technical assistance, and implementation support to behavioral health professionals across HHS regions. These products and services work together to support individuals with substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and chronic diseases through mobile technology, organizational improvement, and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A-CHESS: Addiction – Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System. A suite of services on smartphone that promotes positive behavior change and provides 24/7 support for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. Features include High Risk Locator, Panic Button, and Clinician Dashboard. Used by over 7,000 people and 60 treatment centers nationwide.
• FAM-CHESS
• NIATx

Products and services

• A-CHESS (Addiction – Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System) A smartphone-based recovery support application providing 24/7 monitoring, information, communication, and support services for individuals leaving alcohol or substance use disorder treatment. Features include High Risk Locator (GPS-based relapse alerts), Panic Button for immediate support during cravings, and Clinician Dashboard for monitoring patient progress. Used by over 7,000 people and 60 treatment centers nationwide.
• FAM-CHESS Family-focused smartphone intervention that pairs heavy drinkers with family member partners, offering couple behavioral therapy services and alcohol/substance use support to reduce drinking-related consequences. Includes COVID-19 support content.
• NIATx Process Improvement Model A process improvement model and package of tools that helps behavioral health organizations improve access, retention, and treatment outcomes through systematic organizational change techniques. Implemented across more than 4,000 organizations globally, validated by 50+ peer-reviewed articles.
• ElderTree An eHealth intervention designed for older adults with multiple chronic conditions, delivered via laptop or voice-controlled smart display technologies to improve quality of life and functional health outcomes. Validated in a 2022 RCT.
• Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (GL-ATTC) SAMHSA-funded center providing training and technical assistance to the addiction treatment workforce in HHS Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) for implementing evidence-based practices.
• Great Lakes Prevention Technology Transfer Center (GL-PTTC) SAMHSA-funded center providing training and technical assistance to substance use disorder prevention services workforce in HHS Region 5 for implementing evidence-based prevention practices.
• Midwest Hub-Center for Mental Health Implementation Support (CMHIS) Regional hub providing intensive technical assistance and continuous quality improvement to support implementation of evidence-based practices in mental health treatment and recovery across HHS Region 5 and Region 7.
• Opioid Response Network (ORN) SAMHSA-funded network providing free, localized training and technical assistance to support evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery for opioid and substance use disorders in HHS Region 5.
• Behavioral Health Excellence Technical Assistance Center (BHE-TAC) HRSA-funded center supporting Behavioral Health Workforce Development grantees across the country through training, consulting, virtual training events, and online learning resources.
• Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network (JCOIN) Hub Comparative effectiveness trial testing interventions for scaling up evidence-based innovations across criminal legal settings to increase use of medications for opioid use disorders in prisons.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% increase in MOUD use among incarcerated individuals with OUD over one year in JCOIN trial across 29 county jails
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Marquette UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHESS partners with Marquette University on the Improving Show Rates for Underserved Dental Patients project, funded by the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research, to reduce no-show rates using motivation-enhanced communication techniques.
• Medical College of WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with CHESS on the dental no-show prevention project, contributing clinical expertise in dental care settings serving underserved populations.
• Wayne State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHESS partners with Wayne State University on the Michigan SBIRT project, where CHESS leads training and implementation while Wayne State tracks outcomes across 18 sites including FQHCs and school-based health centers.
• University of Missouri-Kansas CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Behavioral Health Excellence Technical Assistance Center (BHE-TAC), funded by HRSA, to support Behavioral Health Workforce Development grantees across the country.
• Educational Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BHE-TAC initiative providing comprehensive training and consulting services to academic institutions and organizations preparing behavioral health professionals.
• George Mason University - Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHESS partners with George Mason's Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence! on JCOIN projects testing strategies to increase medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in jails and prisons, comparing NIATx and ECHO implementation models.
• Yale School of Medicine and APT FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Lynn Madden from Yale School of Medicine and APT Foundation collaborates on JCOIN research examining MOUD implementation strategies in justice populations, contributing clinical trial expertise.
• Hennepin Healthcare Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHESS partners with Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute on the NorthStar Node of the Clinical Trials Network, utilizing NIDA CTN expertise in hospital-based addiction care to define best practices for hospital-initiated OUD treatment.
• Wisconsin Institute for Healthy AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHESS collaborated with the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging and county Aging and Disability Resource Centers to develop ElderTree, an information and support system for older adults.
• Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHESS is a key partner in this SAMHSA-funded initiative to strengthen recovery support services through training, technical assistance, and innovative resources, working to expand access to high-quality recovery support nationwide.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ophelia: Telehealth clinic providing medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, pairing digital tools with clinician care in a model analogous to A-CHESS plus Clinician Dashboard.
• Quit Genius (now Pelago): Digital substance use treatment platform combining clinician-led therapy with mobile app-based interventions for alcohol, opioid, and tobacco use, directly competing with A-CHESS in employer and payer markets.
• Boulder Care: Digital addiction treatment provider delivering MOUD, therapy, and peer support through a smartphone platform with clinician oversight, comparable to the A-CHESS high-risk locator and clinician monitoring approach.
• Workit Health: Digital therapeutics and telehealth provider for substance use disorder, offering app-based recovery support similar to A-CHESS but delivered as a commercial, venture-backed product with payer contracts.
• Lionrock Recovery: Telehealth and online counseling provider for substance use disorders, offering app- and video-based recovery support comparable to A-CHESS's recovery model.

Others

• SAMHSA: Federal agency funding the ATTC/PTTC/MHTTC/ORN networks that CHESS leads; analogous funder/regulator relationship that defines CHESS's technology transfer business model.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Primary federal funder of CHESS's addiction research portfolio and the Clinical Trials Network; functions as a principal customer/partner rather than competitor, setting the research agenda CHESS's grants respond to.

Broad incumbents

• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Large, established addiction treatment provider that uses evidence-based protocols and treatment improvement methodologies; broad incumbent in the same clinical domain as CHESS's NIATx and A-CHESS work.

Emerging players

• Pear Therapeutics: Pioneer in FDA-authorized prescription digital therapeutics for substance use disorder (reSET/reSET-O), the closest historical analog to CHESS's evidence-based digital intervention approach (now restructured).
• Ken Scientific: Digital behavioral health platform for SUD and mental health; competes with A-CHESS in delivering evidence-based interventions via mobile to treatment organizations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@greatlakescurrent
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-health-enhancement-systems-studies-chess

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies (CHESS)