Dr. Dong Li, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at UMBC, won first place at the Maryland NEW VENTURE™ Pitch Competition hosted by bwtech@UMBC. Dr. Li received the competition’s $5,000 grand prize for his groundbreaking work in AI-driven healthcare technology aimed at improving the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with millions of lives lost each year, often without clear warning signs. Dr. Li’s innovation transforms a standard smartphone into an accessible cardiac monitoring tool by using the device’s built-in microphone and artificial intelligence to measure heart rate and blood pressure without requiring external hardware. By enabling frequent, low-cost, and scalable health monitoring, the technology has the potential to expand access to preventative care and empower individuals to identify health risks earlier.
During the competition, Dr. Li emphasized the urgent need for affordable and accessible healthcare technologies that can reduce barriers to early diagnosis and improve long-term patient outcomes. Supported by Google Research and UMB ICTR ATIP funding, he has already developed a working Android prototype and collaborated with cardiologists from the University of Maryland Medical System for early-stage clinical validation.
The award highlights both the technical innovation and the broader societal impact of Dr. Li’s work, demonstrating how interdisciplinary research at UMBC can translate into real-world technologies that improve healthcare accessibility and save lives.