Meet Nazia Gillani. A personalised, intelligent non-contact sensing system that detects silent mobility decline early and gently prompts timely check-ins, helping adults live safely and independently while giving carers peace of mind. The TeamNazia Gillani recently completed her PhD in Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. She brings over seven years of R&D experience in intelligent systems for movement abnormalities, including Parkinson’s, amputations, falls and frailty. Her work has been endorsed by clinicians and users for its usefulness. She has co-designed these systems with stakeholders, including older adults, GPs, geriatricians, occupational therapists and carers, ensuring that every solution is ethical, practical and user-led. For outstanding innovation and performance, she has been awarded the Intel InnovateFPGA Global Design Contest Bronze Award. ProblemTwo in five adults experience a gradual decline in mobility that goes unnoticed until a health emergency occurs, leading to hospital admission, loss of independence and, all too often, a permanent care transition, forcing people to leave the comfort and familiarity of their home. In the UK, this silent decline costs the NHS more than £10 billion every year, with falls alone resulting in over 219,000 hospital admissions annually. According to NHS Digital and Age UK, nine in ten older people want to age in their own homes, yet few solutions provide early warning before a crisis. Meanwhile, more than 5.8 million unpaid carers carry the daily worry of keeping loved ones safe without timely insight. This leaves a clear gap for at-home, preventative care solutions that help people remain safe, confident and independent.Solution A personalised, intelligent non-contact sensing system that learns an individual’s normal daily routine and detects early signs of mobility decline. When meaningful changes appear, they provide a gentle prompt for a timely check-in, allowing carers and families to act sooner. Designed to be privacy-first, camera-free and easy to use, the system helps prevent avoidable crises and supports safer, more independent living, enabling people to make choices on their terms, with dignity, confidence and full control. By combining lived experience with clinical insight, it will ensure the technology is practical, trusted and genuinely supportive — helping people remain safe, confident and independent at home.ContactNazia Gillani, PhD | LinkedIn This article was published on 2025-10-28
