Making a difference
Summerside woman wins award for research into new technology used to monitor Parkinson’s symptoms
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – A Summerside woman working on her PhD at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) has created her own company hoping to make a difference in the lives of those living with Parkinson’s disease.
In 2020, Bronwyn Bridges founded PragmaClin alongside Gord Genge, who has Parkinson’s.
Together, they recently won a top prize of $25,000 at the Mel Woodward Cup – a competition for startups connected to MUN.
The win was a huge confidence boost for the young scientist and entrepreneur and validation of the hard work she and her team are doing.
Their research, which focuses on accurately and remotely monitoring the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms, is also being positively received by sufferers of the disease.
“I’ve gotten people in different provinces reaching out, wanting to be a part of everything that we’re doing,” said Bridges.
“I think that’s also inspirational, that so many Parkinson’s patients have reached out and said how excited they were to see this come to fruition. I think that makes it all worth it, in the end.”
GETTING HER START
Though her efforts are now bearing fruit, when Bridges began her undergrad biology studies at Francis Xavier University she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after graduation.
Even when she moved to St. John’s to begin her master’s degree in pharmacy, she was unsure what, exactly, she was going to do with it.
She knew she wanted to do something with neurological diseases and found a supervisor who specialized in that and traumatic brain injury.
“I thought his work looked super interesting,” said Bridges, who had worked one-on-one with late-stage Parkinson’s patients during her undergrad.
“I found it really heartbreaking because they basically were explaining how there’s really nothing you can do,” said Bridges.
“Just to try and get out to walk is an accomplishment in itself. I thought that was absolutely devastating.”
HELPING PATIENTS
Initially, Bridges’ field of research was on the positive effects that blueberries – a food that inhibits oxidation – have on Parkinson’s patients.
Through her studies at MUN, she met Genge while her supervisor was giving a presentation on the blueberries study.
When COVID-19 prevented her from continuing to work in a lab, Bridges changed the trajectory of her studies, switching from the master’s program to a PhD.
Instead of focusing on treatment through antioxidants, she and Genge wanted to develop new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases and started PragmaClin to help achieve that.
“We’re not looking to necessarily prevent or treat, such as a drug could,” said Bridges. “But we’re looking to monitor patients over time.”
Two years later, the pair have developed Parkinson’s Remote Interactive Monitoring System (PRIMS) – a system that runs tests on a patient using cameras to remotely monitor motor skills.
After the tests, the system gives a rating on where the patient falls on the Parkinson’s scale – a number from zero to four, based on symptoms. It also shows the patient how they have progressed over time, and a clinician will be able to log in and see the data themselves.
Remote monitoring technology isn’t new, but unlike pre-existing technology, PRIMS does not use sensors, so that patients – who often struggle with fine motor skills – don’t have to strap anything onto their bodies.
Bridges also set out to make the system cost-effective, noting that a pack of sensors can cost around $10,000.
In getting their company off the ground, Bridges and Genge have not been alone. In the past couple of years, she’s participated in workshops and boot camps, such as the Genesis Centre in St. John’s – a MUN accelerator program for startups.
Maggie Courish, startup development co-ordinator for pre-incubation at the Genesis Centre, worked with Bridges during the centre’s eightweek workshop.
There, she mentored Bridges, helping her perfect her pitch and connecting her with other startup entrepreneurs in the area.
Bridges, said Courish, is a passionate and enthusiastic entrepreneur and she is glad to see her efforts gaining attention.
“She’s definitely turning heads, and I really hope the best for her,” said Courish. “I think she will see doors continue to open for her as she moves forward.
LOOKING AHEAD
Over the past six months, PragmaClin has been completing a small pilot study in St. John’s, where patients have been able to go into their office to try PRIMS first-hand and provide suggestions.
“We had a lot of positive feedback, and patients are really excited to be able to use it,” she said, noting that several had inquired about having a system in their homes.
PragmaClin, though, is focusing on keeping its technology in a clinician’s office or the public health care system.
The next step, said Bridges, will be a diagnostic utility study across the Maritimes and Canada. The study will have patients run through the tests, have clinicians watch the resulting videos and give a score rating to test the system’s accuracy.
Any clinician or Parkinson’s patient who wants to be part of the study can fill out a form on PragmaClin.com
Although their company is currently centred-around PRIMS, Bridges hopes that PragmaClin will continue to develop new technology and expand to cover more than just Parkinson’s, such as Huntington’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
Ultimately, Bridges hopes that her business will help ease the burden on the health care system and help patients get diagnosed earlier and more accurately.