Corey Ungaro
4 min read

Presented by:

What are your perspectives and qualitative observations associated with daily wellness journal entries of your application users?

I strongly believe that pairing an individual’s subjective responses with their biometric data tells a more compelling story and provides more actionable guidance. At the same time, mental readiness can be difficult to quantify through biometrics alone. One caveat: users can’t become complacent with their daily journal entries—they need to answer thoughtfully and with intention.

What constitutes an activity?

An activity is recorded from wearable specific devices that detect sustained physiological (sustained elevated HR) and/or motion signals or user recorded activities.

How did you recruit your participants?

We recruited subjects predominately from sports medicine/nutrition conferences and internally at PepsiCo.

How do you think Real-World research will impact the Sports Medicine and Health & Wellness space in the future?

The integration of wearable technologies, structured subjective reporting, and advanced AI applied in real‑world environments has the potential to unlock true individualized personalization at scale. This convergence will fundamentally transform how health and performance are optimized, shifting the paradigm from generalized, population‑based recommendations to precise, context‑aware guidance tailored to the individual.

Is there a list of biometric devices which are compatible with the app?

Oura, Whoop, Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Health, Polar, Dexcom, Withings

Disconnection Between Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability from Wearables – PMC

Did you collect detailed demographics? What was the make-up of the participants?

Yes—we collected detailed demographic information. In total, 514 accounts were created (53% male; 47% female). The mean age was 38 years, and the mean BMI was 26 kg/m2. Overall, 87% of participants were non-Hispanic; 73% identified as White, 13% as Asian, and 13% as African American.

 How do you deal with IRB requirements for these types of studies?

All three studies in the GSSI Labs App underwent the same IRB review and approval process as our standard clinical laboratory studies.

How are participants recruited?

During the pilot phase of the app, we recruited subjects predominantly from sports medicine/nutrition conferences (i.e., ACSM) and internally at PepsiCo.

Is this effective for people with disabilities?

If you’re interested in enrolling, please review each study’s inclusion/exclusion criteria and any study-specific requirements. In addition, the app offers several insight- and survey-based activities, as well as educational materials, that may be useful for people with disabilities.

How does the face scan measure hydration?

The face scan uses Transdermal Optical Imaging to assess blood volume changes in the face. Transdermal optical imaging is a non-invasive technique used to visualize and analyze skin and underlying tissues by using specific wavelengths of light that penetrate the skin to capture images of subsurface structures.

For those interested in exploring partnership studies, research data collection, or partnering on a clinical trial, who would we reach out to?

We’re currently exploring the feasibility and process for external collaboration through the GSSI Labs App. If you have a specific project in mind, please email me at corey.ungaro1@pepsico.com, and we can determine whether there’s mutual interest and alignment.

Are there plans to make this market available?

May 4th will be the official launch day for GSSI Labs App in the US, which will be available in Google Play and Apple App Store.

How can a person sign up to be part of your research?

You can enroll in a study once you have downloaded the GSSI Labs App.

 How do you recruit for your studies?

Third-party partners and conferences were the primary route for recruiting subjects during the pilot phase last year. For the official launch, 3rd party partners, conferences and sporting events will be areas for recruitment.

Share this post

Other Related Content

The American College of Sports Medicine’s Committee on Certification and Registry Boards Executive Council (ACSM Certification Board) has approved an

Cardiac rehab had my heart at “Dr. Butter Buns.”  It isn’t easy for an 18-year-old to choose a career. While

Get to know the six ACSM staff members who make up the publishing team.

GSSI Pre-Conference

The Physiology of Hydration: More Than Water Alone

This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts. 

Divider line green, blue, black
  • Session 1: Sweating the detail: New insights on hydration considerations for athlete performance
    • Lewis James, PhD, Associate Professor in Human Nutrition in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University
  • Session 2: Functional ingredients in fluid replacement beverages for athletes
    • Lindsay Baker, PhD, Director at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute
  • Session 3: The hydration toolkit: Practical approaches to athlete support
    • Floris Wardenaar, PhD, Associate Professor at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University