Innovative AI Technology Used to Detect Neurodevelopmental Disorders
ECE Professor Sarah Ostadabbas has finalized a patent licensing agreement with Northeastern University for her spinout company AIWover, Inc.
This article originally appeared on Northeastern University Center for Research Innovation.
Advancing Early Detection for Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Northeastern Licenses AI-Powered Infant Monitoring Technology to AIWover, Inc
Northeastern University has finalized a patent licensing agreement with AIWover, Inc., a new university spinout founded by Dr. Sarah Ostadabbas, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The licensing agreement, executed through the Center for Research Innovation (CRI), provides AIWover Inc., with exclusive rights to novel artificial intelligence technology developed in Dr. Ostadabbas’s Augmented Cognition Laboratory. This agreement enables the commercialization of novel artificial intelligence technology designed to improve the monitoring and early detection of neurodevelopmental conditions in infants.
The license marks a significant milestone in translating advanced computer vision and machine learning research from Northeastern’s labs into tools that can address critical challenges in pediatric health. It also underscores the mission of the CRI to help faculty innovators transform complex research into real-world impact.
Exclusive Rights to Transform Infant Monitoring
The license grants AIWover, Inc., exclusive rights to foundational patent rights developed in Dr. Ostadabbas’s Augmented Cognition Laboratory. The technology combines advanced computer vision, representation learning, and domain-specific AI frameworks to analyze infant posture and motion from standard home video sources, such as baby monitors.
Unlike conventional systems that rely on simple motion triggers, AIWover Inc.’s approach aims to automatically detect and interpret subtle behavioral and motor patterns in infants. The goal is to support earlier identification of neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, or other motor function delays, which are conditions where early intervention can significantly improve developmental outcomes.
Solving the ‘Small Data’ Challenge in Pediatric AI
One of the most distinctive aspects of this technology is its focus on the “small data” domain. While most AI systems rely on massive labeled datasets, or “big data,” collecting and labeling infant behavioral data is costly, time-consuming, and constrained by strict privacy protections.
The core innovation from Dr. Ostadabbas’s lab addresses this limitation by using synthetic data augmentation and domain-informed representation learning. By bridging the domain gap between adult and infant behavior, these methods allow AI models to be trained effectively with limited real-world data. This approach opens new doors for medical and behavioral monitoring in sensitive settings.
“By addressing small-data challenges in video-based AI, particularly in infant monitoring, we aim to push the boundaries of computer vision in real-world environments where data is limited, noisy, or sensitive,” said Dr. Ostadabbas.
Licensing Agreement: Pathway to Commercial Impact
Under the agreement, AIWover Inc., will continue to develop and refine its cloud-based monitoring system and collaborate with pediatric health researchers to validate the technology for real-world use. The company aims to integrate its AI models into user-friendly tools that work with common home monitoring devices, making advanced infant posture and activity analysis accessible for families and pediatric care providers alike.
For Dr. Ostadabbas, who also directs Northeastern’s Women in Engineering Program and co-directs the Center for Signal Processing, Imaging, Reasoning, and Learning (SPIRAL), this license builds on years of research at the intersection of AI and human behavior modeling. With over 130 peer-reviewed publications and competitive funding from the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and industry partners, her lab has established a foundation for translating technical breakthroughs into practical applications.
Enabling Innovation Through CRI
CRI played a key role in supporting this transition from lab to market. CRI’s team guided the protection of intellectual property, advised on commercialization strategy, and helped structure an agreement that supports AIWover Inc.’s growth while ensuring the technology continues to serve public benefit.
“CRI’s role is to help Northeastern’s researchers navigate the complexities of protecting and licensing their work so they can focus on what they do best—solving real-world problems through breakthrough science,” says Jennifer Boyle Lynch, Executive Director of the Center for Research Innovation.
Looking Ahead: Commercialization
AIWover Inc.’s initial focus is to advance its working prototype through further development and clinical research partnerships. The company’s goal over the next several years is to demonstrate that AI-based infant posture and movement tracking can provide reliable early signals of developmental conditions, helping parents and physicians make better-informed decisions about care and intervention.
This agreement is one more example of Northeastern’s commitment to bridging the gap between research and commercial application, ensuring that promising ideas can become solutions that improve lives.
Source: Center for Research Innovation