
{"id":3794,"date":"2023-03-23T16:07:53","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T20:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/design\/?page_id=3794"},"modified":"2026-06-23T13:16:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T17:16:09","slug":"digital-womens-health-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/","title":{"rendered":"Ensari Lab | Women&#8217;s Digital Health Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_image=&#8221;off&#8221; background_size=&#8221;stretch&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/503\/2026\/06\/generated-image-7.png&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;Closing The Data Gap in Women\u2019s Health via Digital Data&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_text_align=&#8221;right&#8221; background_enable_image=&#8221;off&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;right&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">The Ensari Lab studies how digital health tools, wearable data, and AI can be integrated to improve the measurement, understanding, and care of female reproductive disorders. We focus on endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, chronic pelvic pain, and related conditions that debilitate daily functioning and quality of life yet remain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thieme-connect.com\/products\/ejournals\/html\/10.1055\/s-0040-1718755\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">under-documented<\/a>, poorly managed, and too often dismissed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">Our work is driven by a practical question: How do we ensure the digital data from Apps, wearables, and AI-based tools are accurate, reliable, and clinically useful for women\u2019s health? To answer that question, we design and run real-world studies using patient-generated digital data from mobile health (mHealth) technologies, and novel <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12889-025-23425-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statistical methods<\/a> to understand how these mHealth tools <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/abs\/10.1161\/circ.152.suppl_3.4364295\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">perform in everyday life<\/a> and how they can better support patients and clinicians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">Our research is organized around three core areas:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"marker:text-quiet list-disc pl-8\">\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\"><strong>Validating digital health tools:<\/strong>\u00a0testing whether apps, wearables, and AI-based technologies are reliable, valid, and clinically meaningful for reproductive and pelvic pain conditions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\"><strong>Interpretation of patient-generated digital health data:<\/strong>\u00a0developing ways to make symptom, behavioral, and physiological data more understandable and actionable for both patients and clinicians, with the goal of supporting better conversations, better decisions, and <a href=\"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1145\/3772363.3799243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\"><strong>Personalizing lifestyle interventions:<\/strong>\u00a0studying <a href=\"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/content\/12\/7\/e059280.abstract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exercise<\/a> and other lifestyle-based strategies to improve daily functioning, quality of life, and long-term health for people living with chronic pain conditions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">In addition to our\u00a0<a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline\" href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&amp;user=dAJ4b20AAAAJ&amp;view_op=list_works&amp;sortby=pubdate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">peer-reviewed publications<\/span><\/a>, we share ongoing findings and reflections through\u00a0<a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline\" href=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/data-bytes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">Data Bytes<\/span><\/a>, our lab blog for research participants and the broader community. This work depends on the time, trust, and insight of the people who participate in our studies, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">The lab welcomes collaborations across research, clinical care, and multi-media <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt13459424\/?ref_=nm_knf_t_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">public communication<\/a>. To discuss collaboration opportunities, speaking invitations, or ways this work may inform policy, clinical practice, or public dialogue, please contact Dr. Ipek Ensari at <a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline\" href=\"mailto:ipek.ensari@mssm.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">ipek.ensari@mssm.edu<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/503\/2026\/06\/lab_home_page_collage_red-scaled.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;ipek ensari lab&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; width=&#8221;60%&#8221; max_width=&#8221;60%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Ipek Ensari&#8217;s lab at Mount Sinai in NYC evaluates mobile health (mHealth) technologies and AI methods for improving female reproductive health and disorders like endometriosis, adenomyosis, and fibroids. Our research aims to leverage patient-generated digital dat to augment the data sources on these historically under-documented and poorly managed conditions, and design interpretable patient support tools.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":545,"featured_media":5358,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<h2>Closing The Data Gap in Women's Health via Digital Data<\/h2><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">The Ensari Lab studies how digital health tools, wearable data, and AI can be integrated to improve the measurement, understanding, and care of female reproductive disorders. We focus on endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, chronic pelvic pain, and related conditions that debilitate daily functioning and quality of life yet remain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thieme-connect.com\/products\/ejournals\/html\/10.1055\/s-0040-1718755\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">under-documented<\/a>, poorly managed, and too often dismissed.<\/p><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">Our work is driven by a practical question: How do we ensure the digital data from Apps, wearables, and AI-based tools are accurate, reliable, and clinically useful for women\u2019s health? To answer that question, we design and run real-world studies using patient-generated digital data from mobile health (mHealth) technologies, and novel <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12889-025-23425-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">statistical methods<\/a> to understand how these mHealth tools <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ahajournals.org\/doi\/abs\/10.1161\/circ.152.suppl_3.4364295\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">perform in everyday life<\/a> and how they can better support patients and clinicians.<\/p><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">Our research is organized around three core areas:<\/p><ul class=\"marker:text-quiet list-disc pl-8\"><li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&>p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0\"><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\"><strong>Validating digital health tools:<\/strong>\u00a0testing whether apps, wearables, and AI-based technologies are reliable, valid, and clinically meaningful for reproductive and pelvic pain conditions.<\/p><\/li><li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&>p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0\"><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\"><strong>Interpretation of patient-generated digital health data:<\/strong>\u00a0developing ways to make symptom, behavioral, and physiological data more understandable and actionable for both patients and clinicians, with the goal of supporting better conversations, better decisions, and <a href=\"https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1145\/3772363.3799243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more agency<\/a>.<\/p><\/li><li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&>p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0\"><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\"><strong>Personalizing lifestyle interventions:<\/strong>\u00a0studying <a href=\"https:\/\/bmjopen.bmj.com\/content\/12\/7\/e059280.abstract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exercise<\/a> and other lifestyle-based strategies to improve daily functioning, quality of life, and long-term health for people living with chronic pain conditions.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">In addition to our\u00a0<a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline\" href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en&user=dAJ4b20AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">peer-reviewed publications<\/span><\/a>, we share ongoing findings and reflections through\u00a0<a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline\" href=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/data-bytes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">Data Bytes<\/span><\/a>, our lab blog for research participants and the broader community. This work depends on the time, trust, and insight of the people who participate in our studies, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions.<\/p><p class=\"my-2 [&+p]:mt-4 [&_strong:has(+br)]:block [&_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2 [&_strong:has(+br)+br]:hidden\">The lab welcomes collaborations across research, clinical care, and multi-media <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt13459424\/?ref_=nm_knf_t_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">public communication<\/a>. To discuss collaboration opportunities, speaking invitations, or ways this work may inform policy, clinical practice, or public dialogue, please contact Dr. Ipek Ensari at <a class=\"reset interactable cursor-pointer decoration-1 underline-offset-1 text-super hover:underline\" href=\"mailto:ipek.ensari@mssm.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span class=\"text-box-trim-both\">ipek.ensari@mssm.edu<\/span><\/a>.<\/p><p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5248\" src=\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/503\/2026\/06\/website-visuals-visual-selection-1-1024x774.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"590\" height=\"446\" \/><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3794","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/545"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3794"}],"version-history":[{"count":92,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5595,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3794\/revisions\/5595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/ensarilab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}