News & Events

Past Webinar – Practical Cognitive Assessment Methods for AD/ADRD Research Projects

https://youtu.be/4weOZ9Tf-Og?si=lzfkLGsUZVZSseRz Abstract:  This webinar will examine cognitive assessment methods in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) research, featuring insights from neuropsychology, geriatric psychiatry, and digital health technology. Panelists will highlight the challenges of accurate screening across diverse populations and settings, from community-based studies to clinical trials. Presentations will explore traditional tools like the MoCA and CDR alongside emerging digital approaches using speech AI, wearable sensors, and web-based platforms. Discussions will emphasize demographic influences, functional measures, and resource considerations in selecting appropriate screening strategies. Case studies will illustrate lessons learned in real-world pilot projects, including practice effects, scalability barriers, and the integration of cognitive and functional assessments.Attendees will gain a nuanced understanding of current and future cognitive screening tools and how to apply them effectively in research and clinical contexts. About the Speakers:  Kathryn…

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Oral Presentation: Inference for Longitudinal Data After Adaptive Sampling

This presentation was given on November 20, 2024 by Dr. Susan Murphy as part of the L. Brown Distinguished Lecture series at University of Pennsylvania Abstract: Adaptive sampling methods, such as reinforcement learning (RL) and bandit algorithms, are increasingly used for the real-time personalization of interventions in digital applications like mobile health and education. As a result, there is a need to be able to use the resulting adaptively collected user data to address a variety of inferential questions, including questions about time-varying causal effects. However, current methods for statistical inference on such data (a) make strong assumptions regarding the environment dynamics, e.g., assume the longitudinal data follows a Markovian process, or (b) require data to be collected with one adaptive sampling algorithm per user, which excludes algorithms that learn to select actions using data…

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Grant Funding: NIH Trailblazer Award

This is an R21 award for $650,000 over a period of 3 years. Their smartphone app prototype capitalizes on the handheld nature of a mobile phone and uses its built-in sensors to gauge grip strength to enhance preoperative screening for potential risks of complications post cardiac surgery. This effort will contribute to the growing portfolio of smartphone-based health monitoring solutions actively being developed by Wang and his research team. Source: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/uc-san-diego-researcher-receives-nih-trailblazer-award

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Oral Presentation: American Speech Language Hearing Association Conference – 2024

Presented " Quality Management Framework for an Automated, Phone-Based Telehealth Platform for Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy" at the ASHA Conference in Seattle, WA on November 11, 2024 Source: https://plan.core-apps.com/asha2024/event/6a3d638ef5896a352b49fbfd8b5f1248

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Past Webinar – Unlocking Success: FDA Regulatory Strategies for AgeTech Devices and AI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dpRR_cDPPs Abstract:  This webinar explores regulatory strategies for bringing AgeTech devices and AI innovations to market under FDA oversight. Panelists provided an overview of FDA pathways, including 510(k), De Novo, and Pre-Market Approval (PMA), highlighting how device classification and intended use shape regulatory requirements. Discussion emphasized unique challenges for software as a medical device (SaMD), clinical decision support (CDS) tools, and AI/ML-enabled technologies, including validation standards and cybersecurity mandates. Speakers underscored the importance of aligning regulatory strategy with business models and offered guidance on leveraging Pre-Submission processes and breakthrough device designation to accelerate approval. Real-world insights from wearable device development illustrated the complexities of clinical validation, reimbursement planning, and risk-based regulation.You will gain practical knowledge on navigating FDA processes to responsibly develop and deploy AgeTech innovations for older adults. About the Speakers:  Ameet Sarpatwari, PhD,…

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Publication: Oscillometric blood pressure measurements on smartphones using vibrometric force estimation

Authors: Colin Barry, Yinan Xuan, Ava Fascetti, Alison Moore, Edward J Wang Abstract This paper proposes a smartphone-based method for measuring Blood Pressure (BP) using the oscillometric method. For oscillometry, it is necessary to measure (1) the pressure applied to the artery and (2) the local blood volume change. This is accomplished by performing an oscillometric measurement at the finger's digital artery, whereby a user presses down on the phone's camera with steadily increasing force. The camera is used to capture the blood volume change using photoplethysmography. We devised a novel method for measuring the force applied of the finger without the use of specialized smartphone hardware with a technique called Vibrometric Force Estimation (VFE). The fundamental concept of VFE relies on a phenomenon where a vibrating object is dampened when an external force is…

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Oral Presentation: NIA workshop – Leveraging Adaptive Technology (“Just-in-Time”) Interventions for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-related Dementias

Dr. Inbal Billie Nahum-Shani (PI) presented work from this pilot project during a talk titled "Adaptive interventions and JITAIs as decision policies: What and why?" as part of Session 1 - Digital adaptive interventions: decision-focused evidence production held on October 16, 2024. Source: NIA Event Page

Continue ReadingOral Presentation: NIA workshop – Leveraging Adaptive Technology (“Just-in-Time”) Interventions for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease-related Dementias