EAGER: A Novel Research Tool for Holistic Stress Monitoring in Maternal and Fetal Health

Chronic stress during pregnancy is a serious and often underestimated threat to maternal and fetal health, linked to complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Unfortunately, current methods for monitoring stress in pregnant women are inadequate: questionnaires provide only subjective, infrequent data, lab tests are invasive and sporadic, and existing wearable devices capture only general physiological signals that are easily confounded by other factors. This project aims to fill that gap by creating a novel wearable tool for comprehensive stress monitoring. The device will continuously track both physiological stress indicators (e.g., heart rate variability) and molecular stress biomarkers (e.g., hormones and inflammatory markers) in real time. By enabling early and accurate detection of harmful stress levels, this project’s goal will allow timely interventions to protect maternal and fetal health. In doing so, it aligns with NSF’s mission by promoting scientific progress, advancing national health and welfare, and fostering interdisciplinary training. The project main objective is to develop an innovative wearable research platform that integrates novel molecular sensors with physiological sensors to enable comprehensive stress assessment during pregnancy. The team will create new electrically regenerable molecular sensors that can repeatedly detect multiple key stress biomarkers (e.g., cortisol and inflammatory cytokines) in interstitial fluid. These sensors will be embedded into a flexible wristband alongside modules for monitoring physiological signals like heart rate variability and skin conductance. The integrated device will simultaneously and noninvasively measure molecular and physical indicators of stress in real time. Finally, the platform will be tested on human subjects under controlled stress conditions to validate its accuracy and reliability. This interdisciplinary work will demonstrate a transformative wearable sensing paradigm, laying the groundwork for future continuous stress monitoring. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.