NeuroUX: Interview With Co-Founder Dr. Raeanne Moore About The Research Platform Company

By Amit Chowdhry • Oct 30, 2024

NeuroUX is a company that provides a research platform designed to help researchers study cognitive processes over time in the real world. Pulse 2.0 interviewed NeuroUX co-founder Dr. Raeanne Moore to learn more about the company.

Dr. Raeanne Moore’s Background

Dr. Raeanne Moore

What is Dr. Raeanne Moore’s background? Dr. Moore said:

“My background is deeply rooted in clinical neuropsychology, a field I’ve always been passionate about. During my graduate training, I became acutely aware of the limitations in traditional cognitive assessments. These tools—typically paper-and-pencil tests administered in controlled environments—felt inadequate to truly capture the complexity of cognitive functioning in daily life. I always believed that cognition is a dynamic process, influenced by a multitude of factors, including our environments, mental state, and even time of day. The existing tools, however, gave us just a snapshot of an individual’s cognitive function at one point in time, often in an unnatural clinical setting. This discrepancy really drove me to explore more innovative ways of assessing cognition.”

“During my postdoctoral fellowship at UCSD, I was introduced to mobile and digital health technologies, and that’s when the lightbulb went off. If we could collect data continuously in real-world settings, we could gain a much more nuanced understanding of how people think, feel, and behave in their everyday lives. This intersection of technology and neuropsychology became my passion and eventually led to the founding of NeuroUX. My experience working in both academic and clinical settings helped me recognize the need for tools that were scientifically rigorous but also adaptable to the fast-paced, ever-changing world of healthcare technology.”

Formation Of NeuroUX

How did the idea for the company come together? Dr. Moore shared:

“The idea for NeuroUX came from a real need that I encountered during my research career. When I first started working with smartphone-based cognitive testing, I saw a huge opportunity to improve how we collect data in cognitive and mental health research. The traditional methods were simply too cumbersome and didn’t reflect real-world cognitive performance. At the time, researchers were relying on in-house programming to develop their own EMA (ecological momentary assessment) surveys and cognitive tests, which we then administered on outdated, locked-down Android devices. This approach was not only inefficient but also unsustainable, especially for larger-scale studies.”

“It was clear that the field needed a platform that was not only user-friendly but could also be customized to meet the specific needs of different research projects. That’s when I serendipitously met my Co-Founder, Dr. Derek Lomas. He was a postdoctoral fellow at UCSD’s Design Lab, and we both saw the potential in combining design thinking with cutting-edge technology to create a platform that could fill this gap. Together, we wrote a grant proposal to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and that was the beginning of NeuroUX. Our goal has always been to build tools that not only meet the highest scientific standards but also empower researchers to conduct more efficient, real-world assessments.”

Favorite Memory

What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Dr. Moore reflected:

“There have been so many meaningful moments throughout my journey with NeuroUX, but one that really stands out is our ongoing work in Ecuador. We are conducting a longitudinal study to examine the effects of pesticide exposure on brain health in a region that is one of the world’s largest exporters of roses. Over the past two years, we’ve been able to administer EMA surveys and cognitive tests to over 400 adolescents and young adults during both high and low pesticide spray seasons. We also collect biological samples to directly measure pesticide exposure, allowing us to study its cyclical effects on mental health and cognition. This project is incredibly rewarding because it highlights how our technology can be applied in real-world, high-impact public health research. Seeing the tangible results of our efforts—knowing that our work could potentially influence environmental and health policy—is a reminder of why we started NeuroUX in the first place.”

Core Products

What are the company’s core products and features? Dr. Moore explained:

“NeuroUX offers a comprehensive suite of digital tools aimed at advancing research in mental and brain health. Our core offerings include:

  1. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) Platform: This platform allows researchers to collect real-time data from participants as they go about their daily lives. EMA helps capture in-the-moment experiences and symptoms, providing a more accurate picture of a person’s mental state than traditional assessments, which often rely on retrospective reporting.
  2. Mobile Cognitive Tests: Our tests are designed to be ultra-brief, which allows for frequent, repeated assessments without imposing a high burden on participants. These tests cover key cognitive domains such as memory, attention, executive function, and psychomotor speed. Because they can be administered outside of a clinical setting, they provide more ecologically valid insights into how cognitive functions manifest in everyday life.
  3. Passive Sensing App (NeuroLogger): This app passively collects data on behavior patterns, physical activity, sleep, and social interactions through participants’ smartphones or wearable devices. The data collected helps researchers get an objective view of factors that may affect mental health and cognition without requiring participants to actively input information.
  4. Integration with Wearables: In addition to passive sensing through smartphones, we offer integration with wearables to monitor physiological data such as heart rate, sleep patterns, and physical activity. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between physiological and cognitive processes.

What makes our products stand out is their flexibility and ease of use. They can be adapted to the specific needs of different research projects, and we’ve designed them to be accessible across multiple platforms and in multiple languages. This ensures that researchers can conduct studies in diverse populations around the world.”

Challenges Faced

What challenges have Dr. Moore and the team faced in building the company? Dr. Moore acknowledged:

“The field of digital mental and brain health comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to balancing scientific rigor with user engagement. One of the biggest hurdles we faced was creating tools that were both clinically valid and enjoyable for participants to use regularly. For cognitive assessments to be meaningful, they need to be administered frequently, which means participants have to be willing to engage with the tools over time. This can be difficult, especially in populations that may already feel burdened by their mental health conditions.”

“To overcome this, we’ve worked closely with clinical researchers and participants to iterate on our design. We didn’t want to create just another cognitive test—we wanted to build an experience that participants would find intuitive and engaging. By incorporating elements of gamification and ensuring that the tasks are brief but informative, we’ve been able to significantly increase participant adherence to study protocols. This iterative design process, involving feedback from both researchers and participants, has been key to our success in developing tools that meet both scientific and user experience standards.”

Evolution Of NeuroUX’s Technology

How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Dr. Moore noted:

“Since our inception, NeuroUX has undergone several important technological advancements. Initially, we focused on providing a platform for EMA and cognitive testing, but we quickly realized that the future of mental health monitoring lies in integrating multiple data sources. Our passive sensing app, NeuroLogger, was developed to allow researchers to collect objective data on behavior, sleep, and activity without requiring constant participant input. This capability provides a more holistic view of a participant’s mental and cognitive state.”

“More recently, we’ve been incorporating AI and machine learning into our tools. For example, we’ve developed features that analyze facial expressions and vocal characteristics to predict mental health outcomes. These technologies hold immense promise for more accurate, passive assessments of mental health conditions, allowing us to detect changes even before participants are aware of them. Looking forward, we’re excited about continuing to push the boundaries of what digital health technology can do, particularly in the area of personalized mental health interventions.”

Significant Milestones

What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Dr. Moore cited:

“One of our biggest milestones was validating our mobile cognitive tests against traditional, gold-standard neuropsychological assessments. This validation was essential in proving the scientific credibility of our platform, and it has opened the door for us to work with leading research institutions and clinical trials. Another major milestone was securing funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to support the development and validation of our tools. This grant has allowed us to grow our team, expand our product offerings, and continue to push the envelope in terms of what our platform can achieve.”

“Additionally, our international research partnerships have been a source of pride for us. For example, our work in Ecuador, studying the effects of pesticide exposure on cognitive function, has had significant public health implications. It’s not only helped validate our tools in a real-world setting but also demonstrated the potential for digital health technologies to contribute to important environmental and health research.”

Customer Success Stories

When asking Dr. Moore about customer success stories, he highlighted:

“One success story that stands out comes from Dr. Andrea Weinstein’s work at the University of Pittsburgh. Her team used our mobile cognitive tests to assess cognitive changes in individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Remarkably, they found that our tests were able to detect subtle changes in reaction time and variability that correlated with Alzheimer’s biomarkers, even when traditional lab-based assessments could not. This suggests that our technology could provide earlier, more sensitive insights into cognitive decline, which could ultimately lead to earlier interventions for neurodegenerative conditions.”

“Another example is from a randomized controlled trial we conducted to compare traditional, paper-and-pencil measures of depression and mindfulness with our real-time, EMA-based assessments. The results were striking: EMA measures were significantly more sensitive in detecting changes in symptoms, highlighting the potential for our platform to improve the accuracy and efficiency of mental health assessments in both research and clinical settings.”

Funding

When asking Dr. Moore about the company’s funding details, she revealed:

While I’m unable to provide specific revenue numbers, I can say that we’ve been fortunate to secure funding from several prominent sources, including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This support has been critical in driving our R&D efforts and expanding our platform’s capabilities. Our revenue model includes partnerships with academic institutions, clinical research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials. As the demand for digital mental health solutions grows, we’re seeing increasing interest from these sectors in leveraging our tools to improve data collection and patient outcomes.”

Total Addressable Market

What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Dr. Moore assessed:

“The total addressable market for NeuroUX is substantial, particularly as the global mental health crisis continues to grow. We’re positioned within the broader digital health market, which is expected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming years. Specifically, our focus on digital cognitive assessment, remote monitoring, and personalized mental health interventions places us at the intersection of several high-growth sectors, including mental health technology, clinical trials, and personalized medicine. As more healthcare providers and research organizations adopt digital health solutions, we anticipate that our market will continue to expand.”

Differentiation From The Competition

What differentiates the company from its competition? Dr. Moore affirmed:

“What sets NeuroUX apart is our holistic approach to cognitive and mental health assessment. We’re not just another software platform—we’re a research partner. Our tools are customizable, scientifically validated, and designed with both researchers and participants in mind. This focus on customization allows us to adapt our platform to the specific needs of each study, whether it’s a clinical trial, an academic research project, or a long-term health monitoring initiative. Moreover, we integrate multiple data streams—active cognitive assessments, passive sensing, and wearable data—into a single platform. This comprehensive approach gives researchers a more complete picture of mental and brain health, enabling them to derive more meaningful insights than would be possible with any single tool alone.”

“Additionally, our emphasis on user experience design sets us apart. We know that for cognitive assessments to be effective, participants need to be engaged. That’s why we’ve worked closely with UX experts to ensure that our tools are not only scientifically robust but also enjoyable to use. This combination of scientific rigor, flexibility, and user engagement makes NeuroUX a leader in the digital mental health space.”

Future Company Goals

What are some of the company’s future goals? Dr. Moore concluded:

“Looking ahead, our vision for NeuroUX is to continue pushing the boundaries of what digital health technology can achieve in the mental and brain health space. Over the next five years, we have several key goals:

  1. Advance our platform with AI and predictive analytics: We’re excited to continue developing AI-driven features that will allow for even more personalized mental health interventions. We believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize how mental health is monitored and treated, and we want NeuroUX to be at the forefront of that transformation.
  2. Expand our research collaborations: We plan to work with more institutions across a wider range of mental and cognitive health conditions. By validating our tools in diverse populations and settings, we aim to make NeuroUX the gold standard for remote cognitive assessment.
  3. Scale globally: Mental health is a global issue, and we want to ensure that our tools are accessible to researchers and clinicians around the world. We’re focusing on strategic partnerships that will allow us to expand our reach, particularly in underserved regions.
  4. Integrate with clinical workflows: We aim to make NeuroUX a seamless part of clinical care and pharmaceutical trials. By integrating our tools into healthcare systems, we hope to improve patient outcomes and help accelerate the development of new therapies.”

Additional Thoughts

Any other topics you would like to discuss? Dr. Moore concluded:

“One area that I’d like to highlight is the importance of ethical data use in digital health. At NeuroUX, we take data privacy and security extremely seriously. We are fully HIPAA and GDPR-compliant, and we ensure that participants are fully informed about how their data will be used. In the future, we want to continue exploring ways to empower participants by giving them access to their own data. This transparency is key to fostering trust and engagement, and it aligns with our mission to be not just a research tool, but a partner in improving mental health.”