UC Irvine Develops Smart Wearable for Stress Monitoring

New device tracks both physiological and molecular stress indicators in real-time

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:31am

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Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have created a wearable device called the Smart Quantitative and Comprehensive Stress Assessor and Sub-Classifier (SQC-SAS) that can continuously monitor stress levels by tracking physiological signals and molecular biomarkers. The device is designed to provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of stress compared to existing approaches.

Why it matters

Stress is a major contributor to both mental and physical health issues, but current methods for measuring stress have limitations. SQC-SAS aims to address this gap by offering a more objective, continuous, and detailed assessment of stress that could lead to earlier diagnosis and better management of stress-related conditions.

The details

The SQC-SAS device integrates multiple biosensors to track both physiological indicators like heart rate and skin conductance as well as molecular biomarkers like sweat cortisol. This multimodal approach is designed to provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of stress levels. The device also utilizes machine learning to translate the sensor data into actionable insights about a user's stress profile.

  • The device was outlined in a paper published in Nature Communications on January 29, 2026.
  • The research team at UC Irvine developed the SQC-SAS device.

The players

Rahim Esfandyar-pour

UC Irvine assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and biomedical engineering, and the senior author on the research paper.

Xiaochang Pei, Anita Ghandehari, Shingirirai Chakoma

Electrical engineering and computer science Ph.D. students at UC Irvine who worked on the project.

Jerome Rajendran

A postdoctoral scholar in electrical engineering and computer science at UC Irvine who contributed to the research.

Jorge Alfonso Tavares-Negrete

A Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering at UC Irvine who worked on the project.

UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, where the research was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“Stress is not a single signal; it's a dynamic physiological and biochemical response. By measuring both molecular biomarkers and physiological signals at the same time, we can reduce ambiguity and move toward stress monitoring that's more specific, objective and informative.”

— Rahim Esfandyar-pour, UC Irvine assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and biomedical engineering

“Measurements of stress obtained by electrocardiograms or through galvanic skin response and skin temperature lack specificity, often producing false-positive or false-negative results due to confounding factors such as physical activity, diet, environmental conditions or circadian rhythms. Our wireless, batteryfree and automated SQC-SAS ... is designed to be worn and measures both physiological and molecular signals, so the results paint a much more accurate picture of the stress people are encountering.”

— Rahim Esfandyar-pour, UC Irvine assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and biomedical engineering

What’s next

The researchers plan to further develop and test the SQC-SAS device with the goal of making it available for widespread use in healthcare and wellness applications.

The takeaway

The SQC-SAS wearable developed at UC Irvine represents a significant advancement in stress monitoring technology, providing a more comprehensive and objective assessment of stress levels compared to existing methods. This innovation could lead to earlier diagnosis and better management of stress-related health issues.