June 2026

Dear participants, colleagues, and curious minds,

Summer is here, and it’s not just the weather that’s hot: the MEMoPAD news is too!

Phase VI is cleared for take-off 🛫 We’ve secured full ethics approval for Phase VI. This is the green light we’ve been working towards, and it opens the door to the most ambitious stage of the project yet. Warm thanks to the UWE ethics committee for their prompt, proactive, and constructive response.

From data to design We’ve finished analysing the Phase V survey results and compared them with the insights that emerged from our discussions after the lab activities. Those collected insights are now directly shaping the next iteration of the MEMoPAD prototype, currently in active development.

What’s next: going longitudinal With ethics approval in hand and the prototype taking shape, we’re aiming to launch our longitudinal data collection by the end of the summer! We’ll share clearer details next month, so keep an eye on your inbox. Bear in mind that, at this stage, we’re still evaluating MEMoPAD’s core value proposition. There will be time to refine both the user interface and the emotion-recognition technology behind it.

Behind the scenes: demo exhibition in Porto This week I set up the MEMoPAD stand for the ACM Interactive Health Conference 2026 in Porto, where I’ve been presenting our prototype. Poster, flyers, a SmartSock, even a laser-cut of the project motto and mascot: I tried to bring in all the feedback gathered at the recent UWE Festival of Research.

The conference has been a wonderful opportunity to gather valuable input; thank you to everyone who stopped by the stand with a smile and curious questions.

Something for your reading & watching list Two things worth your time this season:

🔍 Anxiety UK webinar, the science behind anxiety, with Dr Hannah Jones (University of Bristol). A look at what happens in the brain and body when we feel anxious, useful whether you’re navigating it yourself or supporting someone who is. 📅 Wednesday 22 July, 7:00pm · live online · spaces are limited 👉 Book via the Anxiety UK website: https://lnkd.in/eyiDwZdQ

🎓 MHP Research Summit 2026 (with MQ Mental Health Research): an all-day gathering of researchers, clinicians, early-career scientists, and people with lived experience, featuring keynotes, poster sessions, and interactive workshops. 📅 Thursday 8 October, 9:00am–5:00pm · Registration link: https://www.mentalhealthplatform.ac.uk/event/mhp-research-summit-2026

Until next time Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey, your support and contributions are what make MEMoPAD possible. Questions, thoughts, or curious about taking part in what’s coming? Just hit reply; I’d love to hear from you.

PS. This newsletter is also available by email, with over 600 subscribers in total. If you know anyone who might be interested, please feel free to share it with them!

📰 Newsletter archive: https://memopad.luigiandreamoretti.com/newsletter/