This is how a personal drive evolved into a PhD project exploring how emotion recognition technology can benefit mental health.
MEMoPAD stands for Multimodal Emotion Monitoring in Clinical Pathways for Anxiety Disorders.
I'm Luigi Andrea Moretti MD, MSc in HealthTech and this journey began with a personal truth: watching loved ones navigate the complexities of mental healthcare. Faced with their long-term struggles and feeling powerless to help despite my medical background, I saw a clear and urgent need for better tools and a more empathetic system, an opportunity to make a meaningful difference that could not be ignored. (Click the image to view the NHS article)
Infographic: GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
The first step was a feature for my previous startup, IntelliHearts (with Lorenzo Diomeda & Dr Vincenzo Dentamaro): a one-lead ECG emotion recognition tool designed to increase the involvement of users and reduce the high drop-off rates common in digital health apps. Unexpectedly, the feature generated more excitement than the core product, with users, investors, and experts all highlighting its standalone potential for clinical use. (Click the image to watch the demo)
This spark of interest led me to pursue the idea with academic rigor and scientific scrutiny. During my MSc, my project supervisor, David Western, and viva examiner, Michael Loizou, saw the potential and encouraged my application for a PhD scholarship at UWE Bristol. With their support, and now joined by the multidisciplinary expertise of Miles and Paul, this research was born. (Click the image to go to the UWE Bristol project website)
The expert team providing invaluable guidance for this project.
Technology built in a vacuum often fails. Our foundation is built on listening. We use a co-design methodology, actively partnering with patients, clinicians, and carers at every stage. Their lived experiences and professional insights are not just feedback: they are the blueprint for building a tool that is truly relevant, safe, and effective. (Click the image to watch how MEMoPAD can affect mental health care)
The working prototype is out of the lab: in co-design Phase VI, participants in Bristol are using the MEMoPAD watch and companion app in their daily lives for up to five weeks. The PhD thesis follows. Next, we are exploring how to get MEMoPAD to the people who need it, including commercialisation, NHS collaborations and clinical trials. Learn more about our research and methodology. Follow each step in our monthly newsletter.
Early prototype (2025)
Trailer of the early 2025 personal-use mobile app. The current version reflects feedback from co-design Phases IV and V.
Early prototype (2025)
Explore the interactive prototype of the clinician-facing dashboard (early 2025 version).
