Wearable neck sensor to track swallowing and breathing in Parkinson's
Official title: DDT-COA-000167: Digital Sensor for Monitoring Swallow Count and Respiratory Coordination in Parkinson’s Disease patients with Dysphagia
Funded at Sibel INC. · NIH-11181516 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small wireless neck sensor that counts swallows and monitors breathing patterns to help people with Parkinson’s who have trouble swallowing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sibel INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Evanston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,200 |
| NIH project number | 5U01FD008417-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181516 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease who experience swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) or problematic drooling (sialorrhea) and who can wear a small sensor at the base of the throat are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without Parkinson’s-related swallowing problems, those who cannot tolerate or wear a neck sensor, or those with anatomical issues (for example a tracheostomy) that prevent proper sensor placement may not benefit from participation.
What this research studies
A small wireless device (the ADAM sensor) is worn at the suprasternal notch (the dip at the base of the throat) to record swallowing events and respiratory signals during everyday activities. The device uses advanced sensors and machine learning to distinguish swallows and measure how breathing coordinates with swallowing. Researchers will collect data from people with Parkinson’s disease and dysphagia to see how well the sensor captures swallowing frequency, drooling-related events, and risky breathing patterns. The goal is to create a reliable, continuous measurement that can be used in clinics and drug trials to track symptoms outside the lab.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide continuous, objective monitoring of swallowing and breathing to help detect problems earlier, guide therapies, and make clinical trials more accurate.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot work with the ADAM sensor in Parkinson’s patients has shown promise for detecting swallows and respiratory coordination, but this is still a relatively new approach that needs further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Sibel INC.
Evanston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Shuai — Sibel INC.
- Study coordinator: Xu, Shuai
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.