Lisa Fournier, Doctorate | Texas State University
Competition Sponsor: US National Academy of Medicine
Award year: 2021 “Joi” is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Virtual Assistant to improve emotional well-being and independence for people living with dementia (PLWD), especially those aging-in-place. A positive emotional atmosphere is important for PLWD to thrive…

Xi Ren, PhD; Albert Hofman, MD, PhD; Lewis Lipsitz, MD | Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Competition Sponsor: US National Academy of Medicine
Award Year: 2021 When a car is zigzagging, it may be due to the car being compromised, or the road being slippery, or both. Aging…

Kate Hyun, PhD; Seri Park, PhD | University of Texas at Arlington
Competition Sponsor: US National Academy of Medicine
Award year: 2021 The National Highway Safety Administration showed that the population of people 65+ increased by 32 percent from 2009 to 2018 while traffic crash fatalities of this age group…

Konrad, Robert, PhD; Nitish Padmanaban, PhD; Kevin Boyle, PhD | Zinn Labs
Competition Sponsor: US National Academy of Medicine
Award Year: 2021 With age, humans gradually lose the ability to focus to near distances. By their late 40s, most people struggle to view objects within arm’s reach clearly, making it…