Gait speed from wearable sensors to guide ALS trials
Official title: Clinical and Usability Validation of Gait Velocity (SV95C) Measured from Wearable Digital Sensors
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11622545 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly look at using wearable sensors to measure how fast people with ALS walk, to help run better ALS trials.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $878,203 |
| NIH project number | 1U01FD009015-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11622545 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who are potential candidates for participation in clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not able to participate in wearables-based assessments or with contraindications to wearable sensors may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a new wearable-based measure of walking speed (SV95C) in people with ALS to see if it reflects meaningful changes during treatment. It compares this gait metric to traditional ALS scales and walking tests, and it looks at how patients experience and respond to the measure. The goal is to determine if SV95C can serve as a reliable, patient-friendly endpoint in future ALS trials, and to gather user feedback on its usefulness in clinical care. The study emphasizes real-world wearables, ease of use, and relevance to patients’ daily function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may benefit from more accurate and meaningful endpoints in ALS trials that could speed up the development of effective therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Wearable-derived gait metrics have shown promise in other neuromuscular conditions and are being explored in ALS; this study advances to clinical trial readiness for ALS.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berry, James Dale — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Berry, James Dale
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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.