News & Events

Register – Listening to the Heart: In-Ear Infrasonic Technology for Blood Pressure and Beyond

Zoom Registration: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/meeting/register/b7Qip75BSvmSItRN9aqUtA Abstract: This talk will highlight the results of MindMics’ recent feasibility study on non-invasive blood pressure monitoring using in-ear infrasonic signals. Dr. Barnacka will discuss how this novel technology, validated through clinical research, can be integrated into both consumer earbuds and hearing aids, creating a new class of connected health devices. The presentation will explore the underlying infrasonic science, algorithmic advances, and the broader impact on cardiovascular health, preventive care, and data-driven wellness ecosystems. Biography: Anna Barnacka, Founder and CEO, MindMics Inc. Dr. Anna Barnacka is the Founder and CEO of MindMics, a Boston-based healthtech company pioneering “In-Ear Infrasonic Hemodynography (IH)” — a patented technology that transforms earbuds and hearing aids into clinical-grade heart-health monitors. With dual PhDs in Physics and Astronomy and a NASA Einstein Fellowship at Harvard, Anna bridges physics,…

Continue ReadingRegister – Listening to the Heart: In-Ear Infrasonic Technology for Blood Pressure and Beyond

Wearable Heart Failure Socks for Exacerbation and Treatment Monitoring

Pamela Z. Cacchione, University of Pennsylvania. Li Shen, University of Pennsylvania. Heart Failure Monitoring Socks will be used in hospitalized persons with heart failure to gather data on heart failure exacerbations and responses to treatment. We will use this data to develop predictive models for edema and fatigue due to heart failure.

Continue ReadingWearable Heart Failure Socks for Exacerbation and Treatment Monitoring

Voiceitt: AI-Enabled Speech Recognition for Older Adults with Severe Dysarthria

Katie Seaver, The Babel Group. Rachel Khasky-Levy, The Babel Group. This project will evaluate a personalized speech recognition app built by Voiceitt for adults aged 55+ with severe dysarthria, focusing on accuracy, usability, and user satisfaction. Participants will train the app on their own speech and use it in daily life, with support from The Babel Group.

Continue ReadingVoiceitt: AI-Enabled Speech Recognition for Older Adults with Severe Dysarthria

AI-Driven Drug Repurposing to Identify Potential Geroprotectors

Jesse Poganik, Brigham and Women's Hospital This pilot project leverages artificial intelligence and advanced aging biomarkers to identify existing FDA-approved medications that may slow biological aging, using clinical data and biospecimens from over 155,000 participants in the Mass General Brigham Biobank. By focusing on approved drugs with established safety profiles, this approach enables rapid translation of findings into clinical practice for promoting healthy aging and preventing age-related diseases.

Continue ReadingAI-Driven Drug Repurposing to Identify Potential Geroprotectors

Empowering Caregivers of Individuals with Cognitive Impairment to Make Safe Nonprescription Drug Decisions

Eun Kyoung Choe, University of Maryland-College Park This pilot develops Aidara, an AI-powered digital health system that helps caregivers of individuals with cognitive impairments make safer over-the-counter medication decisions. Through multimodal interaction and personalized guidance, Aidara aims to support informed decision-making and reduce medication-related risks.

Continue ReadingEmpowering Caregivers of Individuals with Cognitive Impairment to Make Safe Nonprescription Drug Decisions

Low-Cost mHealth Technology for Objectively Assessing Hearing Loss at Home

Wenyao Xu, Auspex Medix. Wei Sun, University at Buffalo. This project is to investigate an AI-powered, smartphone-based hearing screening tool that uses non-volitional pupillary responses to objectively assess hearing functions and loss.

Continue ReadingLow-Cost mHealth Technology for Objectively Assessing Hearing Loss at Home

Scalable LLM Facilitation for Peer-to-Peer Support Groups of Informal Caregivers

Gregory Stock, Socratic Sciences Inc. Hamed Zamani, University of Massachusetts. Mary Mittleman, New York University. Socratic Sciences, in collaboration with UMass and NYU, is developing an AI-facilitated, question-driven app to help family caregivers of those with AD/ADRD connect and support one another in small, trusted groups around open-ended questions. The project will test and refine a group-facilitation AI bot to make meaningful peer support scalable, accessible, and affordable for millions of overwhelmed caregivers.

Continue ReadingScalable LLM Facilitation for Peer-to-Peer Support Groups of Informal Caregivers