MC10, which focuses on wearable sensor systems geared toward tracking personalized health, is teaming up with the rehabilitation research hospital Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. The goal: to collaborate on the development of new approaches to neurodegenerative and motion-related disability therapy.
 
“MC10’s technology has the potential to reshape rehabilitation,” said Dr. David Zembower, executive director of innovation and clinical research at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, in a statement. “We look forward to developing new therapies and solutions with BioStampRC sensors, furthering our goal of improving treatment and recovery, and of advancing human ability.”
 
The research partnership will focus on identifying unmet clinical and therapeutic needs in the physical medicine and rehabilitation field. Initially, the target will be injuries that result in motion or biomechanics-related disabilities -- especially stroke, traumatic brain injury, incomplete spinal cord injury, and various neurodegenerative diseases.
 
“MC10 is dedicated to improving healthcare with digital solutions,” said Scott Pomerantz, MC10 CEO, in a statement. “By collaborating with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, an institution committed to driving breakthroughs in human ability, we’re positioning our technology to make a real, positive impact in human health.”
 
The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and MC10 plan for multiple publications and conference proceedings to share outcomes from their clinical study collaboration.
 
MC10, based in Cambridge, wrapped up work in January on a Parkinson’s study in conjunction with Belgium-based pharma company UCB, with the results slated to be announced later this year. The study used MC10's adhesive sensors to collect movement data on Parkinson's patients, combined with patient-reported outcomes and neurological assessments from clinicians. They collected data on patients both at home and in clinical settings.
 
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, meanwhile, opened in March. The $550 million, 1.2-million-square-foot facility became the first-ever “translational” research hospital in which clinicians, scientists, innovators and technologists work together in the same space, surrounding patients, discovering new approaches, and applying research in real time.