Wei Gao

Recognized for:
Advancements in wearable biomolecular sensors, which allow for continuous, real-time monitoring and early diagnosis of various health conditions without the need for invasive medical procedures.

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Wearable Biosensors, Bioelectronics, Digital Health

Previous Positions:

Assistant Professor, California Institute of Technology
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Berkeley (Advisor: Ali Javey)
PhD, University of California San Diego (Advisor: Joseph Wang)
MS, Tsinghua University, China
BSc, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Research Summary:

The development of non-invasive, wearable biomolecular sensors that can detect low-abundance biomarkers without the need for invasive procedures is a major goal of personalized and precision healthcare. Technological innovations in scalable manufacturing methods, microfluidics, molecular sensing, and energy harvesting by Wei Gao, PhD, have enabled continuous monitoring of metabolites, inflammatory markers, and hormones present at very low levels in human sweat for the first time. Dr. Gao’s work is bringing us closer to the day when such wearable devices will revolutionize the diagnosis and management of illnesses like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, menopause, and kidney disease.

“We aim to develop wearable biosensors that continuously and noninvasively gather biomolecular data from the body. These devices will provide real-time insights into individual health, enhancing predictive analytics and improving treatment outcomes.”

Key Publications:

1. C. Xu, Y. Song, J. R. Sempionatto, S. A. Solomon, Y. Yu, H. Y. Y. Nyein, R. Y. Tay, J. Li, W. Heng, J. Min, A. Lao, T. K. Hsiai, J. A. Sumner, W. Gao. A physicochemical sensing electronic skin for stress response monitoring. Nature Electronics, 2024.
2. C. Ye, M. Wang, J. Min, R. Y. Tay, H. Lukas, J. R. Sempionatto, J. Li, C. Xu, W. Gao. A wearable aptamer nanobiosensor for non-invasive female hormone monitoring. Nature Nanotechnology, 2024.
3. J. Tu, J. Min, Y. Song, C. Xu, J. Li, J. Moore, J. Hanson, E. Hu, T. Parimon, T.-Y. Wang, E. Davoodi, T.-F. Chou, P. Chen, J. J. Hsu, H. B. Rossiter, W. Gao. A wireless patch for the monitoring of C-reactive protein in sweat. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2023.
4. M. Wang, Y. Yang, J. Min, Y. Song, J. Tu, D. Mukasa, C. Ye, C. Xu, N. Heflin, J. S. McCune, T. K. Hsiai, Z. Li, W. Gao. A wearable electrochemical biosensor for the monitoring of metabolites and nutrients, Nature Biomedical Engineering. 2022.

Other Honors:

2023 Breakthrough of the Year in Engineering and Technology, Falling Walls Foundation
2022 Early Career Award, the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering
2022 Early Career Award, National Science Foundation
2021 Young Investigator Award, Office of Naval Research
2021 Sloan Research Fellowship, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
2020 Young Scientist, World Economic Forum
2020 Early Career Achievement Award, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
2019 Technical Achievement Award, IEEE Sensor Council

In the Media:

Nature – Wearable biosensor measures fertility hormones in sweat

Caltech – Measuring Stress

Scientific American – Electric Bandages Heal Wounds That Won’t Close, Animal Study Shows

Caltech – Wearable Sweat Sensor Detects Molecular Hallmark of Inflammation

Scientific American – Electronic Skin Lets Humans Feel What Robots Do—And Vice Versa

Caltech Magazine – Science of Sweat