DEVELOPMENT OF WEARABLE BIOSENSOR FOR ALCOHOL MONITORING

Despite the commonality of alcohol consumption, there is still a stigma around monitoring blood alcohol content (BAC) and thus still a need for a monitoring device that remains out of site or can be camouflaged into everyday items (e.g. clothing, jewelry, accessories). Our long term goal is to integrate an established,optical means of BAC detection into an esthetically pleasing form factor to deliver the continuous monitoring expected by the general public and the accurate data set required by clinicians. Our short term goal is to transition this detection modality into a wearable form factor via the use of custom specific wavelength LEDs (Specific Aims 1+2) and develop an accurate algorithm via a human subject study (Specific Aims 3+4). The key innovation in this technique is the miniaturization of a proven optical approach, the realization of which will pave the way for human subject validation testing in Phase II and not only benefit the research community, providing a tool to better understand how alcohol dose and frequency impacts physiological and psychological health, but would also benefit the general public on a larger scale by translating the findings from the research community into more responsible and healthy alcohol consumption practices.