Innovative digital health solutions to have better outcomes for stroke survivors
The need
The route to rehabilitation and recovery for stroke patients is complex. Medical intervention often includes a combination of physiotherapy, pain management, mental health support, cognitive, swallowing and speech therapy. The aim is to try to heal the brain, or rewire its neural networks, so that they can function as before. For the clinicians and stroke units who manage a complex programme of rehabilitation, this can be extremely time consuming and ultimately costly. So, a medical technology capable of providing all the necessary therapies in one device could be a game-changer.
The solution
Brunel University London graduate Victor Harabari has applied his MSc in Biomedical, Bioelectronics and Biomechanics Engineering in the search for such a solution. A volunteer for the Stroke Association and passionate about improving the lives of stroke patients, Victor is founder and CEO of CardioCrown Ltd. The company has developed NeuroVive, a stroke rehabilitation platform involving VR that intends to act as a supplementary rehabilitation tool to current practice, to improve outcomes for individuals post stroke. The device aims to improve upper-limb function, track and progress therapy and encourage independent rehabilitation, all whilst still providing continued support from a therapist.
In 2022 CardioCrown was awarded an Innovate UK grant to develop the VR software that engages the patient in intensive, repetitive, and task-oriented exercises that promote neuroplasticity and accelerate recovery.
Further success would rely on finding collaborators, and on securing significant funding to continue the research into the use of virtual reality, robotics, and artificial intelligence technology. That’s where the RIEm Programme has had a significant impact on the company’s progress.
“I have taken part in a number of innovation accelerators and start-up schemes so I wasn’t really sure how much more RIEm would offer,” said Victor.
He describes how impressed he was by the way in which technical experts and Brunel academics went into great depth and detail as the programme unfolded. They navigated the delegates through the complexities of a research and innovation needs assessment, into strategy development for the innovation, and finally on to the creation of a proposal for funding – all tailored for each company.
Victor adds: “We learnt how to write a strong proposal for Innovate UK funding by analysing good and bad examples, and then preparing to pitch. Brunel managed to gather an impressive investor panel, including a representative of EIT Health the biggest community of academic, private, and public partners across the health innovation ecosystem in Europe, and we benefited from lots of informal networking with both academics and technical experts during our sessions on site.”
The outcome
As a direct result of involvement with RIEm, CardioCrown recently took the first three digital rehabilitation therapies into a usability study in partnership with Richmond and Hounslow NHS Trust, Hillingdon Hospital and Brunel University. The feedback from 19 stroke survivors and 21 therapists has been very effective in helping to refine the software. Academics from the university’s physiotherapy, design and biomedical sciences departments are now involved with the company and have worked with Victor on a joint project proposal submitted to Innovate UK.
The immediate focus is on securing more finance from investors who, like Victor, see the enormous potential to apply cutting-edge technology to patient-centred healthcare. The aim is to launch the product into the UK market in late 2023, and then go for the US and European markets on the back of UK user feedback and satisfaction.
CardioCrown has made the most of what the RIEm programme and Brunel University have to offer. This includes recruiting student interns into placements to give them the skills for their future employability. This way, both the company and university benefit.
Brunel University is delighted to work with Victor, our alumni, and CardioCrown to help the organisation to grow to the next stage and optimise the innovation with multi-level support from Brunel and access both public and private innovation funding,” says Dr Michael Joseph, RIEm Programme Lead.
“I can highly recommend the RIEm programme,” says Victor. “The team at Brunel is a valuable extension to my team in CardioCrown. Between us, we have the potential to transform the long-term outcomes for stroke survivors.”
I can highly recommend the RIEm programme, The team at Brunel is a valuable extension to my team in CardioCrown. Between us, we have the potential to transform the long-term outcomes for stroke survivors.
Victor Harabari, Founder & CEO AND Brunel University London graduate.
Brunel University is delighted to work with Victor, our alumni, and CardioCrown to help the organisation to grow to the next stage and optimise the innovation with multi-level support from Brunel and access both public and private innovation funding
Dr Michael Joseph, Business Development Manager (Healthcare and MedTech) & RIEm Lead
Get in touch with the project team member(s) for this case study
Paratharayil
i have managed large partnerships for a budget of £5million with private sector organisations in the uk and overseas. i have led capacity strengthening programmes in resource mobilisation strategy and business model canvas, marketing strategy and proposal development. i have experience in developing route-to-market strategies and investment pitches in healthcare and medtech. i currently lead brunel's sme capacity strengthening project on engagement and research and innovation & business resilience fund. i also manage projects in knowledge exchange and health innovation. i contribute to brunel's early career academic capacity development programmes and south east asia and south asia regional working group in addition to innovation ecosystem management for specific r&i projects. connect with me on linkedin
Dr Michael Paratharayil
I have managed large partnerships for a budget of £5million with private sector organisations in the UK and overseas. I have led capacity strengthening programmes in resource mobilisation strategy and business model canvas, marketing strategy and proposal development. I have experience in developing route-to-market strategies and investment pitches in healthcare and MedTech. I currently lead Brunel's SME Capacity strengthening project on Engagement and Research and Innovation & Business Resilience Fund. I also manage projects in knowledge exchange and health innovation. I contribute to Brunel's Early Career Academic Capacity Development Programmes and South East Asia and South Asia Regional Working Group in addition to innovation ecosystem management for specific R&I projects. Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Case study last modified 23/10/2023