About the Project
The Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIMs) are a group of diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the muscles of affected sufferers, severe disability and reduction in physical activity. An accurate measure of physical activity, as a marker of disease severity, is not available. Accelerometry devices can accurately measure physical activity levels and have been incorporated into generic wrist-worn smartwatches.
Patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) empower the patient to report certain aspects of their disease severity, and provides the doctor with an insight how the disease is affecting the patient.
This study aims to develop a mobile device system tailored to the IIMs that accurately measures disease severity through frequent collection of PROMs and continuous measurement of physical activity levels.
The methodology of the project will include:
1. A smartphone platform for frequent PROM entry will be developed in collaboration with a mobile-health company.
2. A smartwatch system to enable passive collection of raw unprocessed physical activity data from the device’s accelerometer will be developed.
3. Use of the smartphone app and smartwatch system will be trialled in 30-40 patients with an IIM for 3 months. Patients will be required to enter PROM data via the smartphone app regularly (at least weekly) and continuously wear a smartwatch to allow collection of physical activity data.
4. A passive measure of IIM disease severity from raw physical activity data, through correlation with the regular self-reported PROM data will be developed.
5. The clinical utility of the smartphone app and smartwatch system will be investigated by assessing the influence on the treatment of simulated patients through workshops with IIM specialist clinicians.
The developed system will benefit patients, researchers and the NHS through more focussed disease management and accurate remote measurement of IIM disease severity.
Candidates will hold a medical degree and show evidence of interest in connective tissue disease.Candidates are expected to hold a postgraduate degree, such as Masters, and have a track record in clinical research while showing commitment to an academic career.
Funding Notes
This is a Clinical Research Fellowship PhD project. Applicants must be from the UK/EU and funding covers fees/salary (range ST3-ST5) for three years. This PhD project will commence in September 2017. Applicants may contact the Primary Supervisor directly with any questions. Online applications must be submitted, select 'Manchester BRC'. Interviews will be held in Manchester on Friday 17 March 2017. See https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/funded-programmes/mbrc-studentships/
References
[1] Furst DE, Amato AA, Iorga ŞR, Gajria K, Fernandes AW. Epidemiology of adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in a U.S. managed care plan. Muscle Nerve 2012;45:676–83. doi:10.1002/mus.23302.
[2] Kawasumi H, Gono T, Kawaguchi Y, Kuwana M, Kaneko H, Katsumata Y, et al. Clinical Manifestations and Myositis-Specific Autoantibodies Associated with Physical Dysfunction after Treatment in Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis: An Observational Study of Physical Dysfunction with Myositis in Japan. Biomed Res Int 2016;2016:9163201. doi:10.1155/2016/9163201.
[3] Rider LG, Giannini EH, Harris-Love M, Joe G, Isenberg D, Pilkington C, et al. Defining Clinical Improvement in Adult and Juvenile Myositis. J Rheumatol 2003;30:603–17.
[4] Allenbach Y, Foucher A, Champtiaux N, Gilardin L, Hervier B, Benveniste O, et al. Wrist-worn accelerometer as innovative tool for longitudinal follow-up of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy patients: A pilot study. Neuromuscul Disord 2015;25:S310. doi:10.1016/j.nmd.2015.06.442.
[5] Benveniste O, Rider LG, Aggarwal R, Allenbach Y, Benveniste O, De Bleecker JL, et al. 213th ENMC International Workshop: Outcome measures and clinical trial readiness in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, 18–20 September 2015. Neuromuscul Disord 2016;26:523–34. doi:10.1016/j.nmd.2016.05.014.
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