Boston University has received a $2 million grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to conduct a clinical study on the MOVIVE (MR-005) device developed by MedRhythms. The device is designed for home use and delivers rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) through music, using shoe-worn sensors and software to help with gait rehabilitation and motor function in people with Parkinson's disease.
The funding comes from the foundation’s Personalized Approaches for Understanding, Assessing and Improving Gait in Parkinson's Disease research program. This initiative supports studies that aim to understand the range of gait difficulties faced by those with Parkinson’s disease and encourages research into both motor and cognitive factors affecting walking.
The upcoming study will assess how patients respond to three months of at-home intervention with MOVIVE. Researchers will use various mobility, gait, and cognitive tests, as well as mobile brain imaging technology known as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), to examine changes in brain activity related to walking performance. The goal is to identify brain markers linked to cognitive load and individual differences in response to RAS-based training.
Brian Harris, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at MedRhythms, said: "MedRhythms is honored to support this important study funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation and led by Dr. Terry Ellis of Boston University, a leader in the field. We look forward to the impact that this study may have on advancing important care for people living with Parkinson's disease."
Boston University has previously worked with MedRhythms on feasibility studies involving MOVIVE technology, which showed positive results in stride length, walking speed, and automaticity of gait.
The new study aims to enroll 160 participants across three academic medical centers: Boston University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Utah. MedRhythms will supply devices and technical support free of charge for the duration of the project.
