Cao Wins NIH Award for Using Technology to Prevent Falls

ECE assistant professor Siyang Cao has earned a $580,000 Trailblazer Award from the National Institutes of Health for working with a precise form of radar to help lower the number of deadly falls in the home. More than 20,000 U.S. adults over 65 die as a result of falls every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – and that number is increasing. 

“The award will support our research group to work with biomedical experts to further explore the feasibility of using mmWave radar technology on falling detection and fall risk analysis,” said Cao. “One of my relatives was in her late stage of disease. She had walkers and someone caring for her, but still she fell to the floor without being noticed by anyone for hours. This motivated me to think if technology can do something to improve quality of life in a way people can accept.”

The award will fund a three-year study to understand three questions: How well can the mmWave radar estimate fall risks for people? How well can the mmWave radar determine falling? And how well can senior citizens with falling risks accept the new technology?

“Radar technology is important in many scientific endeavors such as weather, space and military applications,” said ECE professor and Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Inclusion Kathleen Melde. “This award is important in that it requires Dr. Cao to work with health care practitioners to refine the system to be adopted and used by patients.”