Personalized pill packaging that tracks medication use in real time
Official title: Personalized multi-medication packaging with integrated real-time instrumentation to improve adherence
Funded at Insightfil · NIH-11196731 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses low-cost NFC tags and an Android app to detect when people take their medicines so it's easier to follow prescriptions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Insightfil NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $705,586 |
| NIH project number | 5R44TR003071-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196731 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people taking multiple daily medications or receiving home-based/post-acute care who want help remembering doses and who use an Android smartphone.
✕Less likely to help
People without an Android smartphone, those who store medicines loose rather than in packaged doses, or those who rarely take regular medications may not benefit.
What this research studies
Your medicines would be packaged with tiny, disposable NFC tags that communicate with a smartphone when a dose is taken or removed. An Android app records those events with minimal tapping or setup so you or a caregiver don't have to manage complicated devices. The system is designed for home-based care and works across different diseases and medication forms. Collected data can send real-time alerts to caregivers or clinicians to help prevent missed doses and medication-related problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could cut missed doses and prevent medication-related hospital visits by making adherence easier to monitor and support.
How similar studies have gone: Some smart pill bottles and reminder apps have reduced missed doses, but low-cost NFC-based, low-interaction packaging is a newer approach with limited prior real-world testing.
Where this research is happening
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Insightfil
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Acworth, Edward — Insightfil
- Study coordinator: Acworth, Edward
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized multi-medication packaging with real-time adherence sensing
A new, low-cost system uses NFC tags and smart packaging to help people take their medicines correctly at home and in home-based care.
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Improving medication adherence with personalized packaging and real-time tracking
This study is testing a new, easy-to-use technology that helps people remember to take their medications at home by using special tags that track when they take their pills, making it simpler for everyone involved.
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.