LEO Science & Tech Hub, Wearifi Inc., and Northwestern University are investigating the clinical potential of next-generation wearable electronics in dermatology research.
LEO Science & Tech Hub announced to partner up with Wearifi Inc. and the Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics at Northwestern University to investigate the clinical potential of next-generation wearable electronics in dermatology research. Wearifi, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, designs and develops the world’s smallest, battery-free wearable devices. The collaboration will evaluate whether the device and miniaturized sensor technology can inform and enhance drug development and treatment regimens by potentially identifying and measuring key disease-associated biomarkers.
Troels Marstrand, Chief Data Scientist at LEO Science & Tech Hub, stated, “Effectively bringing Wearifi products into the dermatology space will be a challenging endeavor, but one that will push boundaries and help us better understand our limits with regards to the relationship between technology and skin health. We have an opportunity in front of us to learn informative new details about our largest organ and potentially yield pioneering results for our industry,”
The LEO Science & Tech Hub is recognized for its unique collaborative approach of seeking cutting edge technology for dermatological applications. Since its launch, the hub has successfully formed multiple partnerships to explore minimally invasive biomarker technologies, drug delivery devices, advanced imaging systems and remote monitoring methods with leading research institutes and biotechnology companies.
The partnership to open new avenues to advance skin health
Anthony Banks, Chief Technology Officer, Wearifi Inc., stated, “Wearifi’s miniature wireless devices allow for imperceptible and unobtrusive placement practically anywhere on the body and are currently used to monitor heart rate, respiration rate, and UV exposure.” He added, “Partnering with a leading biopharmaceutical company like LEO to leverage this mm-scale sensor technology could potentially open new avenues to advance skin health.”
The study to be conducted at different departments of Northwestern University
The initial steps of the research will include a proof of concept study in collaboration with dermatologists and engineers at Northwestern University’s Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology. The teams involved will explore the feasibility of creating a wearable Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) detector for continuous measurement of both external and internal VOCs.
