Can a smart bra bridge the gender gap in cardiovascular research?

Health · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For decades, women have been underrepresented in clinical heart studies, leading to a dangerous lack of data on female-specific symptoms. Now, researchers are turning to everyday clothing to capture real-time biomarkers and revolutionize how we monitor women's heart health.

The medical community faces a significant data deficit regarding women's cardiovascular health. Because women were often excluded from cardiovascular trials until 1993, and because animal studies frequently utilize fewer female models, much of our medical knowledge is based on male data. This creates a critical risk: as artificial intelligence begins to drive digital health, algorithms trained primarily on male datasets may inadvertently perpetuate existing biases and medical inequities. This historical exclusion means that many women do not experience the same symptoms as men during a cardiac event. Consequently, medical professionals often lack sufficient information regarding female mortality rates.

To combat this, Alicia Chong Rodriguez, an MIT graduate, co-founded Bloomer Tech. The company aims to move beyond the 'one-size-fits-all' approach by creating a device that is molded to the individual's body. Their innovation is a washable bra designed to be worn comfortably while continuously monitoring vital metrics. Unlike traditional devices, this garment uses flexible, washable circuits positioned strategically around the core and heart to capture accurate data. The company was named after Amelia Bloomer, a famous activist for women's rights. This founder's motivation stems from losing her grandmother, an obstetrician, to a heart attack when she was thirteen.

By integrating these readings, the bra's algorithm generates digital biomarkers—including ECG, respiration, heart rate, and temperature—and sends insights directly to a smartphone. This real-time data can identify abnormalities that serve as early warning signs of heart problems. Clinical testing for this technology began in 2018. By collecting these vast volumes of data, the project seeks to provide medical professionals with the information necessary to improve early detection, treatment, and overall health management for women. The collected information can be shared with any medical professional the wearer chooses. This collaborative approach helps researchers develop better management and detection strategies.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Could a piece of lingerie bridge the gender gap in heart health?
• Why heart disease remains a hidden danger for women
• Why medical science is finally moving beyond the narrow focus on women's reproductive systems.
• The accidental invention that revolutionized women's sports: sewing two jockstraps together.
• Beyond the human eye: how AI identifies hidden patterns in heart disease
• The heart's chemical alarm system signals when it is being stretched
• Can you protect your heart without making life difficult?
• Can we teach the human heart to heal itself like an embryo?
• A single pregnancy indicator could predict a woman's future heart health
• Why does the heart need its own blood supply?
• How does blood flow through the heart?
• The heart's invisible conductor controls your heartbeat

More in Heart & circulation · More in Health · Latest · A–Z · All topics