Robin A. Felder named University of Virginia 'Innovator of the Year'

Donna Cusano

The University of Virginia announced that Robin A. Felder, Ph.D. was awarded their highest honor for research discoveries, the Edlich-Henderson Innovator of the Year Award. Dr. Felder’s pioneering research in telecare as part of (the now defunct) Medical Automation Research Center (MARC) at UVA started in the early 2000s when few were investigating remote monitoring, much less passive behavioral monitoring and modeling. This research resulted in the founding of Home Guardian (now WellAWARE Systems). A differently designed and patented passive monitoring system resulted in QuietCare (now Care Innovations QuietCare). Dr. Felder has moved on to found companies devising cell culturing that mimics human biology and physiology (Global Cell Solutions) and still in technology with Medical Automation. It is good to see his work recognized, and it does remind us that we have finally arrived at a point where we can take a look back at ‘early days’. Congratulations to Dr. Felder! UVA release. Hat tip to reader Andrea Swayne, who participated in the early testing of Home Guardian for MARC.