Brain-Health Monitoring Technology Selected for NCInnovation Funding

A research team developing an at-home, fabric-based neural sleep monitoring platform is the latest from UNC Wilmington to be selected for NCInnovation funding. The NCInnovation Board of Directors unanimously approved $7.9 million in funding to support nine applied research projects across North Carolina, the regional funder announced Tuesday.

The UNCW project, led by Department of Computer Science Professor Karl Ricanek Jr. and School of Health and Applied Human Sciences Associate Professor Alex McDaniel, titled NeuroWeaveAI NeuroHealth Platform addresses a critical gap in access to brain-based sleep diagnostics. People living with conditions such as traumatic brain injury, PTSD, epilepsy and sleep disorders often lack access to long-term neurological monitoring because current EEG systems are expensive, invasive and typically confined to specialized clinical centers with trained technicians. This innovation aims to expand access to sleep health – a foundational element of human performance, learning and disease prevention – by enabling more scalable and accessible brain-based monitoring.

Central to the innovation are four pillars: Fabric as a Sensor (FaaS) technology, Algorithms and AI, Neural Data Security and Mobile Application. Together, these components support the capture of brain activity through fabric-based sensors, AI-driven analysis of neural signals, secure handling of sensitive neurodata and delivery of personalized sleep feedback through a mobile platform. The NCInnovation award will support clinical validation, real-world testing and commercialization-ready technology development.

“This project captures the innovative energy that drives UNCW today. Drs. Ricanek and McDaniel exemplify our faculty's dedication to creative partnerships, curiosity and cutting-edge research," Chancellor Aswani K. Volety said. "What makes their work so powerful is its potential to change lives by bringing accessible, long-term brain health monitoring out of the clinic and into everyday settings. This technology could open new pathways for individual healthcare, and UNCW is proud to help lead that progress.”

Ricanek and McDaniel’s team is collaborating with several industry partners, including Wilmington-based Nuream Inc., which patented its FaaS technology. A pillowcase is expected to be the first commercial application, with broader potential for a new class of fabric-based neurotechnology capable of capturing and interpreting brain activity through everyday fabrics.

“This award highlights the power of connecting UNCW research with startup partners to drive real-world impact,” said Associate Provost for Research and Innovation Stuart R. Borrett. “Through UNCW’s collaboration with Nuream, we are advancing AI-enabled neurohealth solutions that move beyond the lab to expand access to care, while strengthening North Carolina’s innovation economy.”

NCInnovation helps university innovations advance toward commercialization by supporting applied research through the critical research and development phase between proof of concept and readiness for the private market. The grant funding is part of NCInnovation's broader effort to support the development and commercialization of university research in North Carolina.

"Dr. Ricanek and Dr. McDaniel’s AI-powered sleep sensor could transform how we monitor serious neurological conditions, making diagnostics accessible outside of a clinical setting for the first time," said NCInnovation CEO Michelle Bolas.