Roozbeh Jafari, PhD, professor at Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine with joint appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M College of Engineering, has dedicated his career to building technology and engineering solutions that have a positive impact on health care. He has recently made significant contributions to the field of engineering medicine.
Jafari and his team have developed an electronic tattoo that can measure blood pressure without the need for bulky or uncomfortable equipment. The device is a small, flexible patch that adheres to the skin and uses sensors to measure blood pressure in real time. The sensor is also able to store the data it collects, allowing for continuous monitoring over a period of time.
“A project that I thought would take a few months ended up taking a decade,” Jafari said. “In 2013, I was approached by Texas Instruments to build a proxy for blood pressure. Combining electrocardiography and other technologies, we began a project that would last more than a decade and receive more than 6 million dollars of support. One of the limitations we faced was making sure that measurements taken over time were consistent and comparable. To address this, we developed the concept of electronic tattoos that could be placed in the same location over time to ensure consistent measurements. The sensors can capture data to inform research on hemodynamic parameters related to cardiovascular health.”
Jafari’s work on electronic tattoos for blood pressure monitoring has already received attention and recognition from the scientific community.
With continued research and development, electronic tattoos for health monitoring could become a widely used and highly effective tool for health care professionals and patients alike. Jafari’s work in this field is yet another example of his dedication to advancing the field of neuro-engineering and improving the lives of individuals suffering from various health conditions.
Working with a talented team of 25 students and research staff, Jafari’s projects are quite diverse, ranging from building sensors and AI for digital health paradigms to using commercial wearables for various disorders, including cardiovascular and neurological disorders. His lab has received funding from various agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In addition to his research, Jafari is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. He has supervised numerous undergraduate and graduate students, and he is known for his ability to inspire and motivate his students to achieve their full potential.
“Working with the team at A&M has been a very rewarding part of my work,” he said. “I am constantly impressed by the talent, curiosity, and fearlessness of my graduate and undergraduate students, as well as my team members. We all work together to push the boundaries of science, which often requires taking risks and being unafraid to fail. This is a concept that I encourage in my team and try to embody myself. In addition to my team, I have the privilege of working with highly intellectual colleagues such as Dr. Roderic Pettigrew and other researchers across the nation. Being able to work with these individuals on a day-to-day basis is truly a privilege.”
Jafari is also actively involved in scientific panels for funding agencies and serves on several technical committees, including the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Wearable Biomedical Sensors and Systems Technical Committee and the IEEE Applied Signal Processing Technical Committee. He was the inaugural chair of the NIH study section on Clinical Informatics and Digital Health. He is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a prestigious honor that recognizes outstanding contributions to the fields of medical and biological engineering.
