Therapeutic area

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Developing wearable measures of movement and daily function in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, including infants and toddlers.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and degeneration. Changes in the DMD gene lead to a lack of functional dystrophin, a protein that helps protect muscle fibers. DMD primarily affects boys. Symptoms usually appear in early childhood and can affect walking, arm function, breathing, and the heart as the condition progresses.

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NIH STTR funding supports DMD research in early childhood

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), part of the NIH, has awarded BioSensics a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant. In collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University, the project will develop and evaluate wearable measures of motor skills in infants and young boys with DMD.

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Our research in DMD

Our DMD research has two complementary objectives: evaluating wearable measures of activity and movement in boys with DMD, and developing age-appropriate measures of motor skills for infants and toddlers.

For sponsors developing endpoints in DMD, see Endpoint Development

Digital measures of daily function in DMD

In collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania and informed by patient and family experience, we are developing wearable measures of activity, walking, and upper-limb movement in boys with DMD. Our research evaluates how these measures relate to clinical assessments and whether repeated recordings can capture changes in daily function over time.

  • PAMSys

    A pendant sensor records movement to characterize physical activity, posture, and walking during daily life.

  • PAMSys ULM

    Wrist-worn sensors record upper-limb movement. Algorithms identify patterns consistent with goal-directed use, which are being evaluated as measures of daily function in DMD.

Digital measures for infants and toddlers with DMD

Clinical developmental assessments can measure motor skills in infants and toddlers with DMD, but they provide limited information about movement outside the clinic. With support from our NIH STTR award, we are working with Virginia Commonwealth University to develop and evaluate wearable measures that complement these assessments in everyday settings.

  • Motor skills

    Measuring movement in early childhood

    The project will investigate whether wearable recordings can characterize movement and motor skills in infants and toddlers with DMD, with evaluation in clinical and everyday settings.

  • Age-appropriate assessment

    Understanding function at younger ages

    The aim is to add quantitative information about movement at younger ages and evaluate its relationship to motor development and daily function.

Our research partners

Our DMD research brings together academic medical centers and patient advocacy organizations.

  • Muscular Dystrophy Association
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Virginia Commonwealth University

Advance DMD research with digital measures

Explore collaboration in DMD research. Talk with our team about research partnerships, study design, and evaluating digital measures of movement and daily function.

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