Joan Kaufman, PhD

Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder

Dr. Kaufman received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yale University where she served on faculty in the Department of Psychiatry from 1998-2015. In 2015 she was recruited to Baltimore to serve as Director of Research at the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI). She also held an appointment as a Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Dr. Kaufman left KKI and academic medicine in August of 2022.

Dr. Kaufman’s research was predominantly in the area of child abuse and neglect, spanned from neurobiology to social policy, and used tools from psychology, genetics, and neuroscience to understand resilience and mechanisms of disease risk associated with early adversity. She received consistent funding from the National Institute of Health for her research, and she published over 100 peer-reviewed professional articles and book chapters. She also authored the book Broken Three Times: A Story of Child Abuse in America (Oxford University Press).The book is a narrative non-fiction story that follows one family through the child welfare system, with each chapter providing launching points for discussing state-of-the-art policy, practice, and scientific updates.

Dr. Kaufman is also first author on the paper-and-pencil KSADS child psychiatric diagnostic interview which has been translated into more than 30 languages, and she served as co-Principal Investigator on the grants funded to update the KSADS to the web-based computer-administered format. As one of the principal developers of the KSADS, Dr. Kaufman has served as a consultant on numerous federally-funded, and industry-sponsored child psychiatric clinical trials.

Contact Information:

Joan Kaufman, PhD
Telephone: (203) 772-8152
joan.kaufman@ksads-comp.com

Kenneth Kobak, PhD

Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder

Dr. Kobak has been conducting research on computer applications in psychiatry for over 25 years, including computerized assessments of adult and adolescent psychopathology, computer-administered psychotherapy, web-based clinical training and education, and use of mobile devices to enhance treatment compliance and treatment outcomes. These studies have made a substantial contribution to the published literature in the field.

Dr. Kobak earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology in 1996. While managing a clinical trials research unit at the University of Wisconsin - Madison Dept. of Psychiatry, he pioneered development of several computer-administered rating scales that are widely used in clinical drug trials today. He founded Research Training Associates, a consultancy group using new technologies for training raters to improve reliability and validity in clinical trials.

In 2002 Dr. Kobak helped launch MedAvante, which provides remote, centralized clinical ratings in clinical drug trials. Since 2008 he has led the Center for Telepsychology which provides on-line continuing education on evidence-based psychotherapy treatments. Dr. Kobak has had continuous NIH funding since 2002 and was Principal Investigator on the four NIH grants received for the development of the web-based KSADS-COMP child psychiatric diagnostic tools. Dr. Kobak continues to leverage his scientific expertise and interests to stay at the forefront in research on computer applications in psychology.

Alison Deep, MCA

Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder

With an illustrious career spanning over 23 years, Mr. Deep is a distinguished leader in software development, systems integration, and innovative technology solutions. His expertise encompasses a diverse array of domains, including clinical research, pharmacogenomics, life sciences, biopharmaceutical marketing, and managed healthcare. Renowned for his strategic foresight and technical acumen, Mr. Deep has been the driving force behind transformative projects that bridge cutting-edge technology with real-world impact.

As the principal architect of the KSADS-COMP application, Mr. Deep has dedicated the last 12 years to advancing the KSADS program and securing Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. His visionary leadership has positioned the application as a cornerstone of innovation in clinical research, streamlining processes and enhancing outcomes for stakeholders worldwide.

Mr. Deep serves as the strategic and technical linchpin of our organization, overseeing its direction, operational excellence, and long-term growth. He spearheads large-scale, complex project engagements, orchestrating intricate workflows, cross-functional teams, and advanced tools to deliver exceptional results. His commitment to excellence is evident in his establishment of industry-leading program management standards, encompassing robust frameworks for cybersecurity, risk management, internal audit, regulatory compliance, change management, and process optimization.

Under Mr. Deep’s stewardship, our organization has achieved compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is currently pursuing 21 CFR Part 11 certification, reinforcing our commitment to the highest standards of data integrity and regulatory adherence. His ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes while driving innovation has earned him recognition as a trusted leader in the industry.

Mr. Deep’s academic credentials are equally impressive. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Applications, a Postgraduate Diploma in Software Engineering & Systems Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from the prestigious Madras Christian College. This strong educational foundation, combined with his extensive experience, enables him to approach challenges with analytical rigor and creative problem-solving.

With a passion for innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Mr. Deep continues to shape the future of technology-driven solutions, delivering value to our organization, clients, and the broader industry.