Automated screening of how moms respond to infant distress using wearables to prevent substance use problems
Official title: Automated Assessment of Maternal Sensitivity to Infant Distress: Leveraging Wearable Sensors for Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Research
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11397027 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A caregiver-friendly project using wearables to understand and support how mothers react to their babies’ distress to reduce future risk of substance use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $320,977 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059423-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397027 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are caregivers with infants and young children up to early childhood who are willing to use wearable sensors and provide relevant behavioral data.
✕Less likely to help
Families without access to compatible devices or who opt out of data collection may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and test wearable-based algorithms that automatically measure how mothers respond to their infant’s distress. By collecting real-time data from mothers and babies, researchers will identify patterns linked to secure attachment and better self-regulation. The goal is to develop practical tools that can be used in communities to support healthy mother-child interactions and prevent later substance use problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could benefit from easier monitoring of mother-infant bonding and earlier supports to reduce risk for substance use in adolescence and beyond.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows sensor-based methods can capture caregiver-infant interactions, with growing evidence linking secure attachment to better outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Barbaro, Kaya — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: De Barbaro, Kaya
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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.