Madhankumar Vasudevan

Research

Title - HapPN: Haptic Interfaces for Sensorimotor Assessment in Peripheral Neuropathy

               Societal challenge: Health and well-beingDr Madhankumar Vasudevan’s research focuses on human-centred and sensory-driven haptic technologies, with a particular interest in touch, multisensory perception, wearable interfaces, and assistive technologies. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India, and an Honorary Lecturer at University College London. He obtained his PhD in Human-Computer Interaction and Computational Neuroscience from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Before joining IIT Roorkee, he worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at University College London, where he contributed to EU-funded Horizon 2020 FET research on touchless and mid-air haptic interaction. His work brings together human-computer interaction, design, and computational neuroscience to develop technologies that support health, well-being, and inclusive interaction. 

Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is a neurological condition that affects the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to reduced sensitivity to touch, vibration, temperature, and pain, and may also affect grip, balance, movement, and quality of life. PN is commonly associated with diabetes, ageing, metabolic conditions, autoimmune disorders, and chemotherapy-related nerve damage. Since many people are diagnosed only after the condition has progressed, there is a strong need for earlier, more accessible, and more objective ways to assess sensory and motor changes.

The HapPN project aims to develop human-centred haptic interfaces for the sensorimotor assessment of Peripheral Neuropathy. The project will explore how touch-based technologies, including wearable haptic devices, vibration and force feedback, electrotactile stimulation, mid-air haptics, and Virtual Reality, can be used to measure changes in touch perception and motor control. These methods may help identify early changes in nerve function and provide more quantitative information than conventional screening tools.

By combining human-computer interaction, haptic technology, neuroscience, clinical research, and design, HapPN addresses the societal challenge of health and well-being. The broader goal is to support earlier assessment, personalised rehabilitation, and more inclusive healthcare technologies for people living with sensory and motor impairments caused by Peripheral Neuropathy.