Using your phone or laptop camera to track rheumatoid arthritis activity
Video Disease Activity Index: A novel video measure to monitor rheumatoid arthritis in telehealth
This project uses phone or laptop video and computer vision to measure joint swelling, movement, and grip strength for adults with rheumatoid arthritis during telehealth visits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173879 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use your smartphone or laptop camera during a telemedicine visit while a web-based system records simple joint movements and hand tasks. The system applies computer vision to estimate joint range of motion and visible swelling and pairs video with a squeezable device to measure grip strength. Researchers will test whether the technology works reliably and is easy for patients to use, collecting technical data and user feedback. The aim is to make remote visits give doctors clearer, objective information about disease activity so treatment decisions are safer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis who use telemedicine and can operate a smartphone or laptop camera and follow simple movement instructions.
Not a fit: People without reliable internet or camera access, those unable to perform the required joint or hand movements, or those with conditions that obscure video-based measurements may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors detect flares and adjust RA medicines more accurately during remote visits, reducing missed swelling and unnecessary clinic trips.
How similar studies have performed: Telemedicine is common in RA care but using computer vision to quantify joint swelling and motion is relatively new and has had limited real-world validation.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Howe, Robert D — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Howe, Robert D
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 below.