The University of Virginia and three other universities are partnering for research to create self-powered devices to help people monitor their health.

The National Science Foundation says the Charlottesville school will participate in research for advanced self-powered systems of integrated sensors and technologies.

Officials say the research center will be headquartered at North Carolina State University. In addition to U.Va., other partner schools include Penn State and Florida International University. There also are five other affiliated universities and about 30 industry partners in the center’s global research consortium.

The research effort will be funded by an initial five-year, $18.5 million grant from the foundation.

Officials say the new devices created from this partnership could transform health care by improving the way doctors, patients and researchers gather and interpret health data.