$1 Million medical research development grant a game changer for Parkinson's sufferers - 25 December 2023
A team of UNSW biomedical engineers and neurologists, allied foundations, companies and institutions have been awarded a $1 million development grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to develop a device to substantially improve the walking ability and quality of life of those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Figure 1: People with Parkinson's testing the prototype at Lady Davidson Private Hospital on 9News here.
Currently, Parkinson’s commonly produces an unstable gait leading to falls. The consequences of falls are fractures and other injuries, fear of future falls, hospital admissions, increased dependence on families and health professionals, loss of independence, social isolation and early mortality.
The development grant, going by the title “Helping five million people with Parkinson’s disease walk” will enable the team to advance beyond a prototype device already developed in conjunction with the free Walking Tall App, to mitigate or reduce the negative consequences of the disease. Thousands of Parkinson’s sufferers globally are now using this App which was released in August 2023, and have delivered positive feedback. Those interested in the App can download it free from the iOS store and Android store and read more about it on this link. The earlier prototype device [Figure 2], which is the subject of this grant, is attached to bands worn above the ankles and has already demonstrated the ability to profoundly improve the walking ability of those using it. This includes a 42km walking by David Cox, with the prototype bands that raised over $6,500 for Shake It Up Australia Foundation. Read more about Coxy's Long Walk here.
The development grant, going by the title “Helping five million people with Parkinson’s disease walk” will enable the team to advance beyond a prototype device already developed in conjunction with the free Walking Tall App, to mitigate or reduce the negative consequences of the disease. Thousands of Parkinson’s sufferers globally are now using this App which was released in August 2023, and have delivered positive feedback. Those interested in the App can download it free from the iOS store and Android store and read more about it on this link. The earlier prototype device [Figure 2], which is the subject of this grant, is attached to bands worn above the ankles and has already demonstrated the ability to profoundly improve the walking ability of those using it. This includes a 42km walking by David Cox, with the prototype bands that raised over $6,500 for Shake It Up Australia Foundation. Read more about Coxy's Long Walk here.
Figure 2: A/Prof Matthew Brodie and the bands with Chris Louie, Director Digital, Cyber and Future Industry, Business Council of Australia at Parliament House in Canberra as a part of UNSW Founders delegation.
As a ‘pacemaker for gait’ the proposed new device will use the super-additive effects of synchronising neuronal stimulation across limbs, which is already proven to help people with spinal cord injury regain function, to help people living with Parkinson’s disease walk better and for longer.
“Put simply, all a person with Parkinson’s disease has to do, is put on our bands and walk,” says A/Prof Matthew Brodie from UNSW’s Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. “This grant represents a game changing development for Parkinson’s disease management”.
As a ‘pacemaker for gait’ the proposed new device will use the super-additive effects of synchronising neuronal stimulation across limbs, which is already proven to help people with spinal cord injury regain function, to help people living with Parkinson’s disease walk better and for longer.
“Put simply, all a person with Parkinson’s disease has to do, is put on our bands and walk,” says A/Prof Matthew Brodie from UNSW’s Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering. “This grant represents a game changing development for Parkinson’s disease management”.
Figure 3: Local Kingsford Smith MP Matt Thistlethwaite testing the prototype bands at Parliament House.
Significantly, the NHMRC development grant recognises and rewards the partnership between industry and universities with support from the Commonwealth Government. The device will be manufactured in Australia partly from recycled plastic bottle caps contributing to the development of a high value and sustainable manufacturing sector and accordingly will benefit the Australian economy.
“There are more than 200,000 Australian’s living with Parkinson’s and the development of this medical device, on the back of A/Prof Brodie’s previous successful clinical trial funded by Shake It Up and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, is vital to improve stability and gait in people with Parkinson’s which will in turn improve their quality of life and help to reduce the significant number of injuries incurred due to falls,” said Vicki Miller, CEO, Shake It Up Australia Foundation. More specifically, the grant will fund the cooperative approach of the team led by Associate Professor Matthew Brodie with chief investigators Scientia Professor Nigel Lovell who is Head of UNSW's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering and Professor Arun Krishnan who is Head of the Neuromuscular Disease Research Group at Prince of Wales Hospital and includes:
“There are more than 200,000 Australian’s living with Parkinson’s and the development of this medical device, on the back of A/Prof Brodie’s previous successful clinical trial funded by Shake It Up and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, is vital to improve stability and gait in people with Parkinson’s which will in turn improve their quality of life and help to reduce the significant number of injuries incurred due to falls,” said Vicki Miller, CEO, Shake It Up Australia Foundation. More specifically, the grant will fund the cooperative approach of the team led by Associate Professor Matthew Brodie with chief investigators Scientia Professor Nigel Lovell who is Head of UNSW's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering and Professor Arun Krishnan who is Head of the Neuromuscular Disease Research Group at Prince of Wales Hospital and includes:
- UNSW Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, to manage compliant design and evaluation
- Shake It Up Australia Foundation, to lead patient engagement
- Walking Tall Health Pty Ltd, to oversee the commercial aspects of the project
- Platypus MedTech Consulting, to manage regulatory requirements, and
- Healthscope's Lady Davidson Private Hospital, to assist with evaluating clinical outcomes
Figure 4: Anne Falk, Senior Physiotherapist from Lady Davidson Private Hospital with Howard, a patient with Parkinson’ that tested the prototype at their rehabilitation centre.
As part of the project, the team will develop and test a “proof of concept” medical device to treat people with Parkinson’s Disease. The development grant in partnership with UNSW Founders alumni Walking Tall Health Pty Ltd will also fund the work that is necessary to gain approval to include the product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Once on the ARTG it can be clinically prescribed for use by patients within the Australian health system. This would subsequently enable the team to make an application for the reimbursement of patient costs, which would increase availability for widespread community benefit.
“Walking Tall Health is thrilled to be partnering with Shake It Up Australia Foundation, Lady Davidson Private Hospital and UNSW to bring a new medical device to market with potential to help over five million people living with Parkinson’s worldwide” says Dr Martin Ostrowski, Chief Science Officer, Walking Tall Health, and person living with Parkinson’s disease. “This NHMRC Development grant gives hope to people living with Parkinson’s disease”.
The team envisages that this medical device will, within three years, be viewed an essential component of the “Parkinson’s puzzle” and a vital treatment option in the suite of therapies available to people living with Parkinson’s. First published by Christine Ross for Walking Tall Health 25 December 2023
As part of the project, the team will develop and test a “proof of concept” medical device to treat people with Parkinson’s Disease. The development grant in partnership with UNSW Founders alumni Walking Tall Health Pty Ltd will also fund the work that is necessary to gain approval to include the product on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Once on the ARTG it can be clinically prescribed for use by patients within the Australian health system. This would subsequently enable the team to make an application for the reimbursement of patient costs, which would increase availability for widespread community benefit.
“Walking Tall Health is thrilled to be partnering with Shake It Up Australia Foundation, Lady Davidson Private Hospital and UNSW to bring a new medical device to market with potential to help over five million people living with Parkinson’s worldwide” says Dr Martin Ostrowski, Chief Science Officer, Walking Tall Health, and person living with Parkinson’s disease. “This NHMRC Development grant gives hope to people living with Parkinson’s disease”.
The team envisages that this medical device will, within three years, be viewed an essential component of the “Parkinson’s puzzle” and a vital treatment option in the suite of therapies available to people living with Parkinson’s. First published by Christine Ross for Walking Tall Health 25 December 2023