This professor’s research may save your life through a 10-second video

Nobody loves needles at the doctor's office. Between scheduling the appointment, waiting at the hospital and receiving that dreaded poke, having blood drawn for routine issues can be a real pain. For those who suffer from chronic health conditions or lack access to hospitals, drawing blood can be even more complicated - or just not happen - leading to medical neglect and potentially undiagnosed issues. But what if needles weren't necessary for your bloodwork?

A record of innovation

While Ahamed first joined Marquette in 2003, he has been fascinated with the applications of mobile devices in the healthcare field for years. Before there were Androids or iPhones, mobile devices like personal digital assistants (PDAs) ran on some of the first mobile software. Ahamed realized early the potential PDAs had in the healthcare field and began developing privacy measures to create safer and more user-friendly devices for medical professionals. From these initial origins, the Ubicomp (meaning ubiquitous computing) lab began pioneering how mhealth can create massive impacts in healthcare technology.

"Ubicomp is always trying to see what we can do next. What innovation, what discovery, can advance our health systems?" asks Ahamed.

How can a video reveal vital signs?

In Ahamed's most recent publication, Ubicomp's research outlines that a smartphone video holds the data necessary to see many of the microscopic details that drawing blood would be able to show. While needles and lab testing may yield the same results, Ubicomp's instantaneous computation system can track the same movements, optics and reactions that a clinical lab test could for tracking vitals such as heart rate and oxygen saturation levels along with biochemical markers including hemoglobin, creatinine and white blood cell count.

Tracking these metrics is essential in providing faster and more accessible care, especially for those with chronic conditions. For someone in active treatment for leukemia, a white blood cell count is needed almost daily, and instead of subjecting someone to additional bloodwork or the fees associated with it, Ahamed's work demonstrates that a noninvasive video can accurately determine the same information.

Ahamed hopes that people who suffer from chronic conditions can find greater ease in their treatment by finding new solutions to medical diagnostics and testing. For those who have disabilities, a lack of transportation, or live in areas of the world where healthcare is hard to reach this technology is revolutionary.

Even for everyday people, Ahamed outlines that this technology can change how we view our own health and the resources we have in receiving care. "Let's assume it's 2 in the morning," says Ahamed, "You call your doctor - you get nothing. But if you take a video, start a phone conversation, a doctor can help you from anywhere around the world."

The next frontier for mHealth

White blood cell count is only the beginning of the capabilities of the technology developed by Ubicomp. Ahamed hopes the next breakthrough will be in diabetes care. Daily finger pricks were once standard for monitoring glucose levels, and while continuous glucose monitors introduced in 2017 reduced that burden, they still require replacement every one to two weeks. Now, Ahamed and his team are working to take the next leap forward - exploring how a simple video could eliminate the need for needles altogether.

"Have a dream and then try to reach it. It won't be 100% successful on the first go, but that small success is a huge thing. That's good research," says Ahamed, discussing what motivates him and his team as they start new research - and when the finish line is furthest away.

Ubicomp has driven breakthroughs for more than 23 years, and under Ahamed's leadership, students continue turning once-impossible ideas into life-changing healthcare technology. "The strength of this lab is in the students. They are the ones who make dreams a reality," says Ahamed. "The students bring experience from computer science, data science, and electrical engineering, all essential in creating these systems."

Ahamed extends his gratitude to the many supporters who have helped Ubicomp achieve great things and pioneer the future of accessible healthcare technology, including Dr. Dennis Brylow, professor and chair of the Computer Science Department; Dr. Praveen Madiraju, professor and director of graduate studies; the Office of Research and Innovation; Dr. Kalpa Vithalani, executive director of technology transfer; the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI); and Dr. Heather Hathaway, acting dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. Ahamed also thanks Nafi Sabith, Masud Rabbani and other lab members for their years of hard work, research and dedication as Ph.D. students in the Ubicomp lab.