My interdisciplinary research program develops accessible technologies to transform sleep and cardiorespiratory care, with a strong focus on health equity. Integrating artificial intelligence, speech analysis, textile-based sensors, medical device development, and community-based participatory research, I design solutions that are user-centered and clinically impactful. Internationally, I am recognized for advancing technologies to quantify fluid shifts during sleep, uncovering mechanisms that link nocturnal fluid accumulation to asthma, heart failure, stroke, and sleep apnea. My research leverages clinical expertise and translational ecosystems (e.g., H2i) to bridge engineering and medicine, and drive scalable innovations. My work includes AI algorithms for diagnosing sleep apnea using speech and respiratory sounds, acoustic imaging of the cardiorespiratory system, and smart textiles for autonomous monitoring and treatment. My vision is to transform sleep care across the lifespan—from youth and pregnant individuals to older adults with multiple chronic conditions. I am committed to advancing interdisciplinary research, fostering equitable healthcare solutions, mentoring the next generation of innovators, and building sustainable partnerships with underserved communities globally.
Azadeh Yadollahi is an emerging investigator in the field of sleep and airway disorders. In 2014, she was appointed a Scientist at TRI—one of five research institutes within UHN—and recently obtained an academic appointment as Assistant Professor at the prestigious Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. She is also an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Graduate Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Manitoba.
Dr. Yadollahi completed her doctoral training with Dr. Zahra Moussavi, Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Manitoba, where she developed expertise in analyzing respiratory sounds and their application for diagnosing sleep apnea. As a visiting scholar at the Harvard University School of Public Health, she received asthma training from Dr. Jeffrey Fredberg, Professor of Physiology and world expert in mechanisms of airway narrowing in asthma. She then pursued postdoctoral training under renowned respirologist Dr. T. Douglas Bradley, Medical Director of the Centre for Sleep Health and Research at UHN, Director of the Respirology Program at the University of Toronto and the Clifford Nordal Chair in Sleep Apnea and Rehabilitation Research. Here, she honed her skills and developed an expansive repertoire of techniques with which to study the effect of the recumbent position during sleep on the severity of sleep apnea.
- Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
- Associate Member, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto
- Adjunct Faculty, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Manitoba