A collaborative team from Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering has pioneered a novel approach to monitor individual responses to COVID-19 vaccines. By integrating wearable sensor technology with artificial intelligence, the researchers have developed a personalized digital biomarker that objectively measures physiological changes post-vaccination.

The study, published in Communications Medicine, involved 88 participants who wore a torso sensor patch before and after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Utilizing similarity-based modeling, the team created individualized "digital twins" to establish baseline physiological patterns for each participant. Post-vaccination data were then compared to these baselines to detect subtle, vaccine-induced changes.

Findings revealed that this multivariate digital biomarker more accurately predicted systemic reactogenicity and correlated with immune responses than any single physiological measure. This advancement holds promise for tailoring vaccine regimens to individual needs, enhancing efficacy and safety.

The research team includes BME faculty members Steven R. Steinhubl, Matthew P. Ward, and Craig J. Goergen, with graduate students Sarwat Amin and Damen Wilson, along with Jennifer Anderson (BMEPhD’23), Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine.

Read the full article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-025-00840-8