In a recent interview with Bloomberg Businessweek Daily, Dr. Canan Dagdeviren—Director of the Conformable Decoders research group at the MIT Media Lab and Principal Investigator of WHx, the Media Lab's Women's Health program—discussed how wearable technology and AI can transform the way we detect and treat disease, particularly for women.

Her group designs soft, flexible devices that mold to the body and translate physical patterns—like heart rate or tissue changes—into digital signals. One of their most promising innovations is a wearable ultrasound patch that fits into a bra, allowing for safe, comfortable, and real-time breast cancer screening at home.

Unlike traditional mammograms, this device is non-invasive, radiation-free, and capable of detecting anomalies with precision. With AI integration, it can monitor how a tumor evolves over time and support earlier, more personalized care.

This work is at the heart of WHx: a commitment to closing gaps in women’s health through inclusive, translational innovation. By designing tools specifically for women—not retrofitting what already exists—Dagdeviren and her team are shifting the standard of care toward something more equitable, effective, and human-centered.