Wireless, skin-friendly neck wearable to support voice/airway care
Official title: Develop a wireless, skin-conformable and dual-sensing wearable system in support of voice and upper airway telehealth care
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11527881 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A neck-worn, wireless sensor system combines two measurements to help people with voice and airway problems manage symptoms and stay adherent to treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $399,449 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DC021461-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11527881 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with airway or voice-related conditions who are undergoing behavioral therapy or management programs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing voice or airway symptoms or those not using wearable devices may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a comfortable, skin-conforming wearable that sits on the neck to monitor voice and airway health. It uses two sensing methods — neck surface accelerometry and surface electromyography — to track signals related to breathing, voice, and muscle activity. By pairing this with user-friendly software, the device is designed to support daily therapy and improve adherence outside the clinic. The research team will develop, test, and refine the hardware, materials, and computational methods to ensure accurate, reliable readings in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could better manage voice and airway symptoms at home, with more consistent therapy and fewer clinic visits.
How similar studies have gone: Wearable health monitors exist, but a neck-worn dual-sensing system for VUA health is a novel approach with potential for improved monitoring.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Wei — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Gao, Wei
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.