A project led by Dr. Selim Aras of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Ondokuz Mayıs University’s (OMU) Faculty of Engineering has been selected for funding under the TÜBİTAK 1001 Scientific and Technological Research Projects Funding Programme.

The project, titled “Research and Development of a Psychiatric Monitoring and Analysis Platform (PsyMAP),” aims to develop an innovative system for continuously monitoring the health status of patients receiving inpatient treatment in secure psychiatric wards without compromising their privacy.

Instead of cameras or wearable devices, the proposed system will use PVDF-based sensors integrated into patient beds together with radar sensors. These technologies are intended to enable contactless monitoring of parameters such as falls, heart and respiratory rates, sleep quality, and overall movement.

The system is expected to improve patient safety, particularly in secure psychiatric wards, while strengthening healthcare professionals’ capacity to identify risks and intervene at an early stage. The project activities will be carried out within OMU’s Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

The research team also includes Professor Dr. Feza Geyikçi and Professor Dr. Hülya Gökalp Clarke from OMU, as well as Associate Professor Dr. Neriman Aras from Samsun Mental Health and Diseases Hospital.