Real-time heart and stress monitoring for patients and therapy dogs
SCH: Synchronous Dyadic Physiological Monitoring for Real Time In Vivo Measurement and
This project tests wearable sensors that record heart rate, breathing, movement, and stress signs for cancer patients and therapy dogs during animal-assisted visits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143223 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would wear a small wireless sensor while the therapy dog wears a matching sensor so researchers can record heart rate, breathing, activity, and skin conductance during visits. The team will also ask you to complete short surveys and will collect timed observations to link how you feel with the sensor signals. Data from both you and the dog are synchronized in a cloud platform so researchers can study how your responses change together in real time. The researchers will use these findings to build standardized protocols and new analysis tools aimed at improving animal-assisted support.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with cancer who take part in animal-assisted visits and are willing to wear a small sensor and complete brief questionnaires are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are allergic to or afraid of dogs, unable to interact with animals, or unwilling to wear sensors would not be suitable and likely would not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help tailor animal visits to better reduce stress and symptoms by showing when and how interactions calm patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows animal-assisted visits can reduce stress and improve symptoms, but simultaneous physiological monitoring of both patients and dogs in real time is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, United States
- North Carolina State University Raleigh — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roberts, David L — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Roberts, David L
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 below.