AI health-tech company Stellarcube has signed a research agreement with Korea University Anam Hospital for the “development of an AI-based pain management algorithm (PainX)” and has begun a 12‑month clinical study.

The study focuses on developing the PainX technology, which automates the entire sequence of “prediction → diagnosis → medication recommendation” for pain based on multiple biosignals such as ECG and PPG, in order to address the limitations of existing pain management, namely subjective assessment, reliance on clinicians’ experience, and variability in medication administration.

This joint research aims to overcome the limitations of current pain assessment methods and to develop an AI model that quantifies and predicts pain by analyzing in real time a wide range of biosignals, including ECG, PPG, GSR, SpO₂, and respiratory rate.

This technology, specified as a core element of the project in the research plan, is expected to become a new standard for managing pain with objective indicators in clinical settings. In particular, by predicting at an early stage the risk of transition from acute pain—experienced by 70–80% of surgical patients—to chronic pain, the project is anticipated to generate clinical benefits in multiple areas, including shorter recovery periods, optimized medication, and enhanced patient safety.

The research team at Korea University Anam Hospital will collect retrospective and prospective patient data, establish pain labeling criteria, and validate the algorithm in actual clinical environments such as wards, intensive care units, and recovery rooms, thereby building a clinical framework that meets global standards.

Professor Kim Hee-jung stated, “If an AI system that predicts pain based on biosignals is successfully developed, it will drastically improve existing pain management practices that have depended on the experience of medical staff,” adding, “Anam Hospital will focus on creating solutions that can be practically used in medical settings through clinical validation and data-based interpretation.”

With this joint research as a starting point, Stellarcube will accelerate both the technological maturity and commercialization of its AI-based pain management solution, PainX.

The company is developing core technologies such as EMR and waveform integration, a clinical decision support (CDS) system for analgesic medication recommendations, and a centralized monitoring dashboard, while also preparing for MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) approval and subsequent entry into the FDA market.

Stellarcube CEO Noh Jin-seop said, “This study is an important turning point for Korean medical AI technology to leap to a global level. Stellarcube aims to realize a ‘pain-free recovery environment’ through AI, and is developing technologies that fundamentally improve patients’ quality of life while reducing the burden on medical staff,” he emphasized, underscoring the significance of this collaboration.

According to the research and development plan, the results of this project can be utilized in a wide range of areas, including: △ pain monitoring systems for hospitals and long-term care facilities △ at-home pain management services △ development of monitoring devices equipped with AI △ pain prediction services in industrial safety △ provision of data to support healthcare policy.

If this research succeeds, it is expected to become an important case demonstrating the competitiveness of Korea’s medical AI industry in the global pain management market.

In addition, as social factors such as population aging, increasing surgical procedures, and the spread of chronic pain converge, the precision pain management market based on AI is growing rapidly in the United States and Europe. The collaboration between Stellarcube and Korea University Anam Hospital is expected to serve as a starting point for opening a new paradigm in pain management, by combining the technological capabilities of the private AI sector with the clinical expertise of a university hospital.

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