Interdisciplinary Team Awarded I-Corps Grant to Study Fitness App

An interdisciplinary team from the USF College of Nursing and the College of Engineering has been awarded a $50,000 grant through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program.

The I-Corps team will evaluate the market viability of PAfitME, a service technology developed by Hsiao-Lan Wang, PhD, RN, CMSRN, ACSM EP-C, an associate professor in the College of Nursing.

PAfitMe seeks to improve physical activity engagement by developing personalized physical activity prescriptions with exergames and fitness mobile applications (fitness apps).

This technology is a theory- and research-based service process that targets physical activity engagement and has the potential to improve fitness function in individuals of any age and in any physical condition.

The technology may have broader impacts on the society. As a nation, there is a need for creative solutions to improve the general health and fitness of citizens.

According to the US Census bureau, in 2050, the 65-plus age population is predicted to be more than 80 million (twice that in 2012), and members of that age group will stay healthier if they are fit.

In addition, chronic illnesses result in significant reduction in productivity of working population – the severity of illness can be reduced by improving the fitness of the individual.

Members of the I-Corps research team include Dr. Wang, as the principal investigator; Dr. Srinivas Katkoori, associate professor of computer science and engineering at USF, as the technical lead; Rajeev Joshi, a doctoral student in the USF computer science and engineering department, as the entrepreneurial lead; and Jeremy Ramos, co-founder of Priatek, a prize promotions technology company, as the I-Corps team mentor.

Story by Elizabeth L. Brown, USF College of Nursing