Walking-related digital biomarkers for childhood-onset neuromuscular conditions
Establishing Walking-related Digital Biomarkers in Rare Childhood Onset Progressive Neuromuscular Disorders
This project uses wearable sensors to track walking and identify digital signs of change for children, teens, and young adults with inherited neuromuscular disorders such as Duchenne.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312657 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will ask me to wear sensors (like accelerometers or foot-worn monitors) during my normal daily activities so my real-world walking is recorded. They will compare consumer activity trackers with research-grade devices and analyze stride-by-stride walking patterns to develop sensitive digital markers of mobility. The study focuses on children, adolescents, and young adults with genetically confirmed childhood-onset neuromuscular disorders and may include occasional clinic visits for device calibration or checks. The goal is to detect changes in walking that routine clinic tests miss and create measures that could be used in future treatment trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children, adolescents, and young adults with genetically confirmed childhood-onset neuromuscular disorders who can walk and are willing to wear activity sensors during daily life would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are non-ambulatory, have conditions that prevent safe use of wearable devices, or do not want continuous activity monitoring are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these digital measures could detect early or subtle declines in walking and help track treatment effects more precisely than standard clinic tests.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work using wearable trackers in Duchenne and spinal muscular atrophy has shown promise for monitoring mobility but has been limited by device accuracy and few stride-level measures, so this project builds on earlier but still-developing approaches.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Montes, Jacqueline — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Montes, Jacqueline
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.