Cancer patients set to EMBRaCE wearable technologies

The commercially-available health sensors and devices will produce a digital fingerprint of vital signs that could allow doctors to assess the progress of their patients.

EMBRaCE (Enhanced Monitoring for Better Recovery and Cancer Experience) is a collaboration between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University.

The trial opens initially for blood cancer, lung, and colorectal cancer patients and the technologies under investigation include a finger worn ring from Finnish company Oura, the Withings ScanWatch, and chest worn Isansys system.

The wearable technologies assess vital signs including electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate, temperature, physical activity levels and sleep.

Dr Anthony Wilson, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), part of MFT, is the clinical lead for the project.

"Cancer places a huge burden on the lives of people everywhere,” he said in a statement. “This study uses cutting-edge technology that can monitor people during their treatment, with devices that they can wear all the time. We hope that it will provide new insights into how people cope with cancer treatment and what we can do to improve their recovery.”