Epicore Biosystems has appointed Dr. Douglas Casa and Dr. Elaine Choung-Hee Lee as Scientific Advisors, bringing together expertise in exertional heat illness prevention, human performance, thermoregulation, and proteomics as the company works to translate sweat biomarkers into actionable hydration and heat-risk decisions for athletes, industrial workers, and military personnel.
The appointments come as extreme heat conditions continue to heighten safety concerns across workplaces, sports, and field operations. Epicore said the additions will help accelerate validation of the physiological and proteomics indicators it uses to measure hydration, stress, and fatigue, and to strengthen how those signals are interpreted in real-world settings.
At the center of Epicore’s offering is its Connected Hydration platform, which pairs a wearable device with a mobile companion app. The company says the system continuously monitors metrics such as sweat rate, fluid loss, electrolyte levels, skin temperature, thermal flux, and movement, then uses those signals to provide personalized feedback and interventions to reduce the effects of dehydration, electrolyte loss, and fatigue.
Casa, the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, is widely known for his work on exertional heat illness prevention, heat safety policy, and field protocols. Epicore said his focus will include identifying the most meaningful physiological signals, supporting alignment with established heat safety standards, and advancing personalized approaches to reducing heat-related risks for vulnerable populations.
Lee, also at the University of Connecticut, is a researcher specializing in human performance, hydration, and thermoregulation. Epicore said she will support scientific validation of the company’s biomarkers by guiding study design and helping ensure physiological signals are interpreted rigorously and meaningfully across laboratory and field environments.
Epicore framed the advisory appointments as part of a broader growth arc. The company said that in 2025, it raised $32 million in Series B funding, announced an early-adopter rollout of its Connected Hydration Armband, and secured an AFWERX contract to enhance military hydration readiness.
Epicore describes itself as a digital health company spun out of Northwestern University research, developing sweat-sensing wearables and cloud analytics intended to deliver real-time, personalized health insights, with deployments and licensing that include large enterprises and U.S. government agencies.
KEY QUOTES
“My passion for the study of exertional heat stroke started in 1985 when I suffered an exertional heat stroke while running a 10K race. It’s become my ultimate goal to find ways to prevent needless tragedy during sport and physical activity, which is why I am honored to join Epicore Biosystems’ Board of Scientific Advisors. They have created the first cloud-based wearable solution that not only alerts a user to the risk of fluid loss and dehydration, but also provides proactive recommendations based on their personalized data. The future of personalized performance and safety is here, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Dr. Douglas Casa
“Epicore is uniquely positioned at the intersection of wearable technology and applied physiology. By rigorously validating sweat-based biomarkers and translating them into actionable insights, Epicore’s platform has the potential to meaningfully improve safety, performance, and health across demanding environments. I’m excited to contribute to a science-first approach that brings proteomics and physiological understanding into everyday decision-making.”
Dr. Elaine Lee
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lee and Dr. Casa to our Scientific Advisory Board. Their complementary expertise in heat-risk prevention and applied physiology strengthens our ability to deliver scientifically validated, real-time biomarker insights. With their guidance, Epicore will advance the safety and performance of athletes, industrial teams, and warfighters worldwide.”
Dr. Roozbeh Ghaffari, CEO and Co-Founder, Epicore Biosystems
