Sydney, NSW — BlinkLab Limited (ASX:BB1), a pioneering digital healthcare company specializing in AI-driven diagnostics for neurological disorders, is thrilled to announce its participation in a transformative clinical study led by Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC) in Rotterdam. This collaboration aims to enhance the early and accurate diagnosis of dementia, specifically frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), through innovative AI-powered diagnostic tools.
The study will leverage BlinkLab’s cutting-edge technology in the newly established Digital Dementia Lab, a home-based testing environment designed to develop and assess digital biomarkers. These biomarkers will focus on clinically relevant behaviors to improve early diagnosis, addressing the significant global impact of dementia—currently the seventh leading cause of death worldwide with costs approximating $1.3 trillion.
Study Highlights:
- Duration and Scope: The clinical study will span up to 24 months and involve 250 participants from the FTD Risk Cohort.
- Innovative Approach: Utilizing BlinkLab’s smartphone-based diagnostics, including eyeblink conditioning (EBC) and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex (PPI), to capture subtle behavioral and cognitive changes at home.
- Strategic Collaboration: The partnership grants BlinkLab an exclusive option to license any new intellectual property arising from the study.
Henk-Jan Boele, CEO of BlinkLab commented: “BlinkLab is all about bringing basic neuroscience to society and patients. For BlinkLab the main focus remains neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism and ADHD. However, we know from science that there are opportunities for neurodegenerative conditions as well, as mentioned in our Prospectus. Our collaboration with Dr Jackie Poos at Erasmus MC will further dive into this line of research. This work will be an important driver for the transformation of mental healthcare from the current one-size-fits-all approach to a data-driven, personalised, and affordable system. I am looking forward to working with Dr Jackie Poos and we are confident that our collaboration will offer new possibilities for the advancement of dementia diagnosis and care.”
BlinkLab’s Chairman, Brian Leedman, also highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration, "Joining forces with a top-tier research institution like Erasmus MC further validates our innovative solutions and the potential of our technology to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of dementia, alongside our ongoing work in autism and ADHD."
About us:
BlinkLab, a company founded by neuroscientists at Princeton University, over the past several years has fully developed a smartphone based diagnostic platform for autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, and other neuropsychiatric conditions. BlinkLab’s most advanced product is an autism diagnostic test that leverages the power of smartphones, AI and machine learning to deliver screening tests specifically designed for children as young as 18 months old. This marks a significant advancement, considering traditional diagnoses typically occur around five years of age, often missing the crucial early window for effective intervention. BlinkLab is led by an experienced management team and directors with a proven track record in building companies and vast knowledge in digital healthcare, computer vision, AI and machine learning. Our Scientific Advisory Board consists of leading experts in the field of autism and brain development allowing us to bridge the most advanced technological innovations with groundbreaking scientific research.
Contact details:
Jane Morgan