The Eurecat technology centre, a member of Tecnio, is the coordinator of the 6MWT+ project, which plans to improve the way in which the development of chronic neuromuscular diseases is monitored. The project will achieve this aim by incorporating biomechanical sensors into the 6MWT, or six-minute walk test, which is the standard test used by hospitals to monitor the development of such diseases.
The first pilot study for the 6MWT+ project incorporates different sensors that will make it possible to perform a complete functional and biomechanical assessment of the walk test. The study will focus on Duchenne muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy, which together affect around 360,000 adults and 56,000 children across Europe.
The 6MWT consists of measuring the number of metres a patient is able to walk within the space of six minutes. It is the standard functional test for the monitoring of neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory pathologies and the loss of physical function associated with ageing.
Eurecat coordinates the project and will develop the interface from a technological point of view. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona and Copenhagen Neuromuscular Centre will lead the evaluation of the system. GENESIS Biomed will manage the business development, regulation and market access, working with the University of Barcelona and Eurecat. The association Duchenne Parent Project Spain will bring the opinion of the patients and caregivers and will participate in the design and validation. The project also has the participation of Leitat and the support of the community EIT Health, who boost its implementation in the market.
