A smart ring that measures blood pressure without cuffs to help reduce health disparities in people of color.
Official title: A Smart Ring for Cuffless Blood Pressure to Reduce Health Disparities in People of Color
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11192937 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new smart ring that can measure blood pressure without a cuff, especially to help African American communities manage high blood pressure more effectively and catch hidden cases that often go unnoticed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $568,240 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB034821-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192937 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include African American individuals who are at risk for or currently have hypertension.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as African American or those without hypertension may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a cuffless blood pressure monitor in the form of a smart ring, specifically designed to address hypertension in African American communities. The device utilizes bioimpedance technology to provide accurate and continuous blood pressure readings, overcoming limitations of traditional cuff-based methods and photoplethysmography, which can be less effective for individuals with darker skin tones or higher body mass indexes. By employing machine learning and AI algorithms, the device will help identify masked hypertension, a condition where individuals are unaware of their elevated blood pressure levels. This innovative approach seeks to improve hypertension management and awareness in underserved populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate and accessible blood pressure monitoring for African Americans, ultimately reducing health disparities related to hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using bioimpedance technology for health monitoring, but this specific application for cuffless blood pressure measurement in diverse populations is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jafari, Roozbeh — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Jafari, Roozbeh
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.