DiSCERN: a smart, at-home tool to pick and adjust advanced Parkinson’s therapies
Official title: DiSCERN: Advanced PD Therapy Candidacy and Evaluation System
Funded at Great Lakes Neurotechnologies · NIH-11405932 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smart, at-home system uses a watch, phone, app, and online portal to help people with Parkinson’s identify whether they may benefit from advanced treatments and track when those treatments need adjustments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Great Lakes Neurotechnologies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Independence, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2018 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $949,447 |
| NIH project number | 2R44MD013767-04A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11405932 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease experiencing motor fluctuations who may be candidates for advanced therapies and have limited access to movement disorder specialists.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are stable on current therapy with no consideration for advanced therapies or who cannot use digital health tools may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
DiSCERN aims to turn a telemedicine tool into a commercially available product that helps patients with Parkinson’s decide if and when advanced therapies are right for them. The system combines a smartwatch, a smartphone app, a web portal for clinicians, and secure cloud storage to monitor symptoms and candidacy for advanced therapies remotely. By improving access to expertise and enabling continuous, remote screening, the project seeks to reduce disparities in specialty care for patients in rural or low-resource settings while empowering patients and caregivers. The research will integrate user-friendly interfaces, data collection, and clinician workflows to support timely, personalized treatment decisions in real-world care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain earlier and more equitable access to appropriate advanced therapies and better symptom management.
How similar studies have gone: Prior telemedicine tools have shown promise in improving access and decision-making, but this project advances commercialization and remote screening for AT candidacy in PD.
Where this research is happening
-
Great Lakes Neurotechnologies
Independence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heldman, Dustin a. — Great Lakes Neurotechnologies
- Study coordinator: Heldman, Dustin a.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.