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Amissa Health, the Charlotte-based digital health company that enables remote data collection through consumer wearables, has been awarded a $505K Small Business Innovation Research grant (SBIR) from the National Institutes on Aging (NIA) part of the National Institutes of Health (Award Number 1R43AG087803-01A1).
The award will provide funding for Amissa Health to collaborate with researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WUSM) to monitor the health and behaviors of older adults and develop machine learning models that predict preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. With this new award, Amissa Health has raised more than $1.2M in non-dilutive funding to develop software for remote patient monitoring using the Apple Watch and support data collection at two NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers.
“Our team is deeply appreciative and honored by the NIA's sustained recognition and support of our research and development efforts,” said Jon Corkey, Amissa Health CEO and founder. “Our innovative software harnesses the power of AI to measure, collect, and analyze health and behavior data, revealing digital biomarkers that drive breakthroughs in healthy aging. With this funding from the NIA, Amissa Health will initiate longitudinal health measurements and test the feasibility of collecting and centralizing health information to advance equitable population health science."
This study will partner with Dr. Ganesh M. Babulal, Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology and director of the DRIVES Project to classify preclinical Alzheimer’s disease status in older adults. The DRIVES Project, which has been continuously funded by NIH/NIA since 2012, seeks to understand how preclinical Alzheimer’s disease impacts, function like driving behavior. This project will integrate health-related data from Amissa’s Apple Watch app, including biometric data, sleep patterns, and physical activity, along with driving behavior. The goal is to develop a machine learning model that combines wearable sensor and driving data to enhance existing neuropsychological assessments, providing a more accurate prediction of cognitive decline and driving risks in older adults.
This innovative research project introduces novel approaches, including the use of popular smartwatches for data collection, a centralized biometric database for Alzheimer’s disease research, and the integration of health and naturalistic driving data using a datalogger plugged into participant’s personal vehicles. It aims to provide accessible and stigma-free data collection methods for participants while enhancing our understanding of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
“This research represents a significant advancement in leveraging consumer-grade wearables, such Apple and Samsung smartwatches, for remote health monitoring and the longitudinal tracking of vital signs and behaviors in older adults. By enhancing population health assessments and identifying disease risks like Alzheimer’s, the study highlights the potential of wearables to revolutionize healthcare through early detection and personalized intervention. Our next steps involve expanding data collection across research sites and integrating diverse population health data to improve the discovery of digital health biomarkers, further supporting efforts to improve outcomes in conditions like cognitive decline,” said Dr. Colby T. Ford, Amissa Health’s co-founder and the study’s Principal Investigator.
About Amissa Health
Amissa Health is a data-driven platform designed to analyze real-world health data and drive evidence-based health decisions. Based in Charlotte, NC, the company passively measures health and behavior information using consumer grade smartwatches to improve aging-related health outcomes, specifically focused on menopause and dementia. Learn more about Amissa Health here.
About The National Institute on Aging (NIA)
The NIA leads the U.S. federal government effort to conduct and support broad scientific research to understand the nature of aging and to extend healthy, active years of life. NIA is also the primary federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer's disease and related dementias research. Learn more about age-related cognitive change and neurodegenerative diseases via NIA’s Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral Center website. Visit the main NIA website for information about a range of aging topics.
Highlighted quote in the PR ….“This research represents a significant advancement in leveraging consumer-grade wearables, such Apple and Samsung smartwatches, for remote health monitoring and the longitudinal tracking of vital signs and behaviors in older adults.” - Dr. Colby T. Ford, Amissa Health co-founder and study Principal Investigator.
